Vsauce - How Long Could You Live In The ISS If Earth Was Destroyed?
The crew of the International Space Station (ISS) could survive for more than two years if Earth was destroyed, assuming they cannot return. Their survival depends on the number of astronauts aboard and the timing of the last resupply. The ISS recycles water, turning yesterday's coffee into today's coffee, and generates oxygen from water through electrolysis, which is efficient since water is nearly 90% oxygen by mass. However, their main concern would not be running out of air, food, or water, but rather losing altitude. The ISS orbits about 415 km above Earth and gradually loses altitude due to atmospheric drag, dropping about 100 meters per day. Without periodic reboosts, which require propellant deliveries, the ISS would eventually fall back to Earth. It is estimated that the crew would run out of altitude before food and water, approximately 15 months after becoming the last humans alive.
Key Points:
- ISS crew could survive over two years with current resources.
- Water is recycled and oxygen is generated from water via electrolysis.
- Main concern is losing altitude due to atmospheric drag.
- ISS drops about 100 meters per day without reboosts.
- Crew would run out of altitude in about 15 months without resupply.
Details:
1. 🌍 Earth Vanishes: ISS Crew's Sole Survival Scenario
- The ISS crew relies on limited onboard resources, including food, water, and oxygen, which are not sustainable long-term without Earth resupply.
- The station's current technology, such as water recycling and solar power, supports only temporary self-sufficiency.
- A complete loss of communication with Earth would severely impede the crew's decision-making and access to critical updates.
- Existing emergency protocols do not account for a total loss of Earth support, indicating a crucial gap in planning for extreme scenarios.
- The psychological impact on the crew, facing isolation and uncertainty, would be profound and challenging.
- Potential solutions could include developing independent life support systems and psychological support protocols to enhance crew resilience in such extreme scenarios.
2. 🔄 Self-Sufficiency: Recycling Resources on ISS
- The International Space Station crew evaluated resource longevity through recycling.
- Recycling technologies on the ISS help reduce resupply needs by about 50%.
- Water recovery systems on the ISS reclaim over 90% of wastewater, enhancing sustainability.
- The use of advanced filtration systems has cut down the need for water resupply missions significantly.
- These technologies not only support long-term missions but also provide insights for Earth-based sustainability practices.
3. 💧 Water to Oxygen: Electrolysis on the ISS
- The ISS can support astronauts for extended missions, with sustainability enhanced through efficient resource management systems.
- Astronauts could potentially survive for more than 2 years using advanced water recycling systems that convert waste water into usable water.
- The oxygen required for breathing is produced through electrolysis, where water is split into hydrogen and oxygen, demonstrating a closed-loop life support system.
- These recycling systems significantly reduce the need for frequent resupply missions, enhancing the ISS's capacity for long-duration missions.
- The technology used for recycling is highly efficient, ensuring minimal waste and maximum reuse of resources, critical for long-term space habitation.
4. 🌬️ Atmospheric Challenges: Managing Air and Space
- Water electrolysis is a highly efficient method for producing oxygen in space, as water is composed of nearly 90% oxygen by mass. This process is critical for sustaining life in space environments.
- Oxygen management is crucial in space missions due to limited resources and the need for maintaining life support systems. Successful missions have relied on efficient oxygen production strategies to ensure crew survival.
- Implementing water electrolysis in space missions has proven successful in maintaining stable oxygen levels, highlighting its importance in long-duration space travel.
5. 📉 Gravitational Pull: ISS's Gradual Descent
- The most pressing concern for the ISS is not the lack of air, but rather the gradual decrease in altitude due to atmospheric drag.
- The ISS orbits approximately 415 km above Earth and experiences enough atmospheric drag to slow it down slightly.
- This drag causes the ISS to descend by about 100 meters per day.
- Overall, the ISS falls approximately 3 to 4 kilometers closer to Earth each month.
6. 🚀 Final Descent: Inevitable Return Without Reboosts
- Without periodic reboosts and deliveries of propellant, the International Space Station (ISS) would inevitably descend.
- If the crew of the ISS were to remain the last group of humans, they would eventually run out of food and water in about 15 months.
- The lack of reboosts would ultimately force the crew to return to Earth as the ISS descends.