will it take off?

[patrick_g]

Which brings us to the question of what happens if one of shuttle or space station crew should happen to suddenly become sick to his/her stomach while sleeping on board the orbiting station, literally waking in the midst of puking their guts out, followed by an episode of the dry heaves. Whither goest the ejecta, and whither goest the astronaut if overcome with retching while trying to get to the head in a weightless evironment?

Does the action of retching act to propel them about the cabin or not since they are more or less freefloating across the cabin when it starts?

BTW, for those somehow offended or upset by the question about reverse peristalsis, I'm eating lunch as I write this.

Must have been a real doozy of a lunch to prompt these thoughts!

It is a simple vector problem to analyze the momenta. Given the limited velocities and masses of ejecta compared to the mass of the astronaut (even with Linda Blair on orbit or the large globular guy that exploded in the Monty Python Film, "The Meaning of Life" due to overeating), it would make for minor course errors, easily compensated for since the space fliers use hand holds and foot kicks leveraged off available non-delicate objects. The greatest threat to the persons trajectory would be the swift kick in the pants they might accrue when passing within range of one of their fellows with fully functioning olfactories or the course errors that might occur due to distractions like dry heaves.

Pat

 

[patrick_g]

You sound like a CFD guy!
Good chatting with you.

Tom

Likewise, good chatting with you, Tom.

CFD guy? Do you mean computational fluid dynamics? I'll take that as a complement but among other things I used to be a physicist but never actually worked under that title, instead electronics designer and many other labels. So many, in fact, that you'd be driven to one of a few conclusions; either I was a versatile sort of guy, had a short attention span, or couldn't hold a steady job. (or maybe more than one of these.)

By the way... did you ever buy the cute little blue tractor? I thought it was a good idea but I'm no expert. I have only owned one tractor, 39hp Kubota with cab and HST which is up to 800 hours on the clock which are all mine except for a few minutes.

Pat

 

[TomOfTarsus]

Indded I do mean computational fluid dynamics. I've had some training with it, but don't use it - too expensive and specialized for our company. It was meant as a complement because you obviously thought the problem thrugh more thoroughly than I. I'll make the excuse that I'm at work, but should've known better. It's not like I've never worked convection problems before.

& yes to question 2 - or almost. We shook hands last night, delivery Sat. AM. The thing was immaculate, I can't believe it's a '99. No hydraulic hose drying or cracking, nothing loose, bushings solid, cranked right over on the original battery (which WILL probably need replaced). He's giving me a complete set of filters, all the original dcumentation, and he'd changed the oil. All the grease fittings are good, I looked and looked and couldn't find anything wrong with it. Couldn't drive it, but if anything is wrond Saturday it will show up. I'd be might surprised though, he's obviously babaied the thing.

 

[MossRoad]

That's right Moss.

You need smaller crackers.

Or a magic fork! Yeah, that's the ticket.

 

[Egon]

How about a softer dip!

And change your HEPA?? filters after you sneeze!

 

[MossRoad]

Yes, a dip or glass of water would work fine. But just grab a stack of 5 soda crackers and munch into them. First bite = instant dry mouth. Then if you open your mouth to say anything, POOF! the entire space shuttle atmosphere is contaminated with little bits of cracker dust, or your dining room table, depending on where you do the experiment.

 

[RobS]

Yes, a dip or glass of water would work fine. But just grab a stack of 5 soda crackers and munch into them. First bite = instant dry mouth. Then if you open your mouth to say anything, POOF! the entire space shuttle atmosphere is contaminated with little bits of cracker dust, or your dining room table, depending on where you do the experiment.

Always used to joke with anyone getting a new car. We'd nominate him/her to host the cracker whistling contest. No one ever took me up on that...

 

[turnkey4099]

Yes, a dip or glass of water would work fine. But just grab a stack of 5 soda crackers and munch into them. First bite = instant dry mouth. Then if you open your mouth to say anything, POOF! the entire space shuttle atmosphere is contaminated with little bits of cracker dust, or your dining room table, depending on where you do the experiment.

IIRC part of the crew equipment on board are small, handheld "vacuums" used to suck up just such floating detritus.

Harry K

 

[tallyho8]

This thread is never going to catch up with Eddie Walkers CREATING A LAKE thread if you guys keep agreeing!

 

[daTeacha]

I think it's just that the disagreeable types quit posting here. I still haven't found that top, Pat, but it's around here somewhere.