If a bullet were fired on the moon, it would behave differently than if it were fired on Earth due to the difference in gravity on the moon. On Earth, gravity pulls the bullet down towards the ground, resulting in an arched trajectory, while on the moon, the bullet would follow a relatively straight line path until it reaches the earth’s atmosphere and experiences atmospheric drag.
This would mean that the bullet would travel farther on the Moon than on Earth. Additionally, the bullet would move more slowly on the moon than on Earth, since the moon’s gravity is only one sixth the strength of Earth’s gravity.
Due to the lack of atmosphere and the low gravity, the bullet would also not experience any air resistance and would hit its target with greater force than it would on Earth. Finally, the bullet would eventually stop when it either hits a solid object or the lunar surface.
Would bullets work on the moon?
Bullets can work on the moon in principle, although shooting a gun in space is a much more difficult task than shooting one on a planet with a thicker atmosphere. Bullets naturally rely on the atmosphere to provide aerodynamic drag, making them stable and enabling them to fly through the air.
However, on the Moon, there is practically no atmosphere and thus no air resistance, so bullets would not be able to stabilize themselves and would eventually spiral out of control. Additionally, the lack of air resistance on the Moon means that bullets would travel farther than on a planet with a thicker atmosphere, making their trajectories difficult to predict and possibly even riskier.
Furthermore, due to the lower gravity on the Moon, bullets would also travel faster than they would on a planet with higher gravity. Ultimately, while it may be theoretically possible to fire bullets on the moon, the practicalities of doing so would likely make it too dangerous and unpredictable to be feasible.
Would a body decompose in space?
No, a body would not decompose in space. In order for decomposition to occur, there needs to be a certain environment and set of conditions that provide the nutrients, oxygen, and moisture necessary for microorganisms to break down dead organic material.
This process is known as biodegredation. In space, there is limited or no atmosphere, so materials are not exposed to oxygen and flora and fauna are unable to exist in a vacuum. This means there is no source of moisture or oxygen to break down the material, and no microorganisms to facilitate the process.
Therefore, without the correct atmosphere and conditions, a body cannot decompose in space.
How many bodies are lost in space?
It is impossible to know exactly how many human bodies have been lost in space, as many countries do not make this type of information publicly available. However, it is estimated that approximately 18 to 24 astronauts and cosmonauts have been killed in space-related incidents during the history of the space race.
This includes known incidents such as those related to the Apollo 1 disaster and the Columbia STS-107 shuttle mission. It is possible that there are other fatalities in space that have not been reported.
In addition to astronauts and cosmonauts, some animals have also been killed in space-related incidents. These include a primate, multiple mice and a dog.
While it is not known exactly how many other objects such as satellites have been lost in space, it is estimated that millions of pieces of space debris are currently in orbit. This includes both functional and nonfunctional components of spacecraft, debris from rocket launch events and other space junk.
What does space smell like?
Space doesn’t actually have a specific smell, but astronauts aboard the International Space Station have reported that the area has a distinct odor. This odor is most likely caused by the reaction of atomic oxygen and various chemicals that are onboard the station.
Astronauts describe the smell as being somewhat similar to burnt metal or steak that has been seared on a hot skillet. Many have also reported a cardboard-like scent, and the smell has been compared to gunpowder or fireworks.
The odor can also vary depending on the time of day and the area of the International Space Station. In addition, some astronauts have noted a faint, sweet smell which could be caused by the chemicals used for cooling water and other systems on the station, or even the exhaust from a rocket launch.
Is Laika the dog still in space?
No, Laika the dog is no longer in space. She was the first animal to ever go to outer space when the Soviet Union launched her into orbit in 1957 onboard the Sputnik 2 spacecraft. Sadly, Laika did not survive the mission despite the intense preparations scientists and engineers took to provide her with a comfortable and safe launch experience.
The Soviet Union had planned for her to eventually return to earth but the heat shield malfunctioned and therefore she remained in space until the decay of her orbit caused her to burn up upon re-entry into the earth’s atmosphere.
Laika may no longer be in space but her memory is immortalized, and she will always be remembered as a brave pioneer in the history of space exploration.
How long does it take for a human body to decompose in space?
It is difficult to say exactly how long it takes for a human body to decompose in space because there are many different factors that need to be taken into consideration. Generally speaking, it is thought that the process of decomposition will happen much more slowly in space than it does on Earth.
The lack of oxygen, moisture, and microbes in the vacuum of space would all impact the rate of decomposition and make it much slower. Additionally, the lack of sunlight and the cold temperature would also have a slowing effect on the decomposition process.
Without the presence of microbes, the body would become mummified rather than decaying like it would on Earth. It is not clear exactly how long this process would take but estimates range from years to potentially thousands of years.
Ultimately, it is difficult to know exactly how long it would take for a human body to decompose in space as so many factors are involved.
How does NASA dispose of corpses in space?
In general, NASA does not dispose of corpses in space. When traveling in space, astronauts who pass away typically return to Earth with their spacecraft, and they are either buried or cremated depending on the wishes of the astronaut’s family and their cultural and religious beliefs.
In certain cases, astronauts who pass away in space are memorialized in different ways. For example, the ashes of Astronaut Ellison Onizuka were added to the payload of the STS-51C Discovery flight in 1985.
Decisions about how to treat the bodies of astronauts who pass away in space are made on a case-by-case basis by the astronaut’s family, NASA, and policy makers in the United States government. If a decision is made to keep an astronaut’s body in space, the body typically undergoes a space burial where it is released from the spacecraft and left to drift into space.
In cases such as this, an announcement is typically made to other nations in space to inform them of the burial.
Due to recent technological developments, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is currently researching the possibility of biodegradable coffins to be used in future space burials.
The coffins would enable a more humane disposal of corpses in space while also avoiding debris in orbit and protecting the environment.
Overall, while NASA has explored the potential of disposing of corpses in space in the past, in recent years the agency has mostly marked the passing of astronauts with memorial services and other special events that celebrate their life and accomplishments.
What happens if someone dies in space?
If someone dies in space, their body will remain in the vacuum of space indefinitely until proper recovery is possible. The body will not decompose due to the lack of oxygen and extreme cold temperatures in space, however extreme radiation may cause the body to undergo some changes.
Even if the body is recovered, the cold temperatures, vacuum and radiation may have resulted in some changes to the body, making identification difficult. If the body isn’t recovered, the space suit that the deceased was wearing will become a makeshift tomb, as the suit will not be able to let any biological contaminants out, meaning their remains and any matter that was in the immediate vicinity will be trapped inside.
As space is a hostile environment and there is no gravity, orbits can become unpredictable and the suit could end up anywhere.
Can a bullet leave orbit?
No, a bullet cannot leave orbit. Even though bullets are designed to travel at great speeds and contain kinetic energy, they do not have enough energy to escape Earth’s gravity and reach orbital velocities (around 7,800 m/s).
Consequently, regardless of how fast a bullet is fired, it remains bound by gravity, unable to break free and escape into space.
Will a bullet fired in space travel forever?
No, a bullet fired in space will not travel forever. This is because in space, there is no air or other matter to provide friction and slow the bullet down. Therefore, the bullet will keep its initial velocity until an outside force acts on it.
This outside force could be a planet, star, or some other type of celestial body; and when the bullet interacts with this body, it will be affected by gravity and will eventually slow down and drift away.
Even if the bullet fails to interact with any body, it will still eventually slow down due to a process known as “gravitational redshift. ” Therefore, it is impossible for a bullet fired in space to travel forever.
Has a gun ever been fired in space?
Yes, a gun has been fired in space. The first gun to be fired in space was a. 22 caliber pistol carried on board a McDonnell Douglas KC-135, which is a modified airliner used for zero-gravity and atmospheric research in June of 1985.
This gun was fired in order to test the effects of zero-gravity on gun-firing, mainly concentrating on how gas and particles would disperse. After the experiment, it was concluded that in micro-gravity, the bullet and its discharge would disperse in a spherical pattern and therefore be completely harmless.
Since then, no other guns have been fired in space.
How big of an asteroid would it take to destroy the Moon?
It would take a very large asteroid to completely destroy the Moon, with estimates ranging anywhere from a few kilometers to over 100 kilometers in diameter. Depending on the composition of the asteroid, the size could be even bigger – an asteroid consisting of iron would require a larger size than one consisting largely of rock, for example.
To simply cause significant damage to the Moon, a less massive asteroid of a few hundred meters or so might suffice. In either case, an asteroid of that size would have to impact with a very high velocity in order to cause any damage significant enough to be noticed.
To put it into perspective, such an impactor would have to be moving faster than Earth’s escape velocity of ~11 kilometers per second.