15. What happens if we run out of oxygen? (A K2S Question)

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It is not likely that oxygen would be depleted. The life support system, which includes oxygen generation, is two-fault tolerant. There are two backups in case one system fails. There is also oxygen generation equipment, portable breathing equipment, and the spacesuits. On the International Space Station (ISS), astronauts can get in the Soyuz and return home if necessary or isolate other modules that contain inhabitable environments and stay in those where there is oxygen. On the Shuttle, astronauts can go to the ISS. Since space is devoid of breathable air outside of the space vehicles, they plan for every foreseeable contingency to ensure the astronauts have breathable air. For more information about how the oxygen system works, go to http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/reference/faq/ and do a search for air tanks. (See CDROM)

Answer provided by Futron Corporation


Image:K2S logosmall.jpg Question and Answer extracted from the book Kids to Space - by Lonnie Schorer


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