On 11/11/2011 13:54, Ian Jackson wrote:

snip

If you out in space without an oxygen supply you would be dead very
shortly anyway but even if the skin is strong enough to contain that
which is more usually supported by 14.7lb/in^2 of air pressure there
is a direct atmosphere/blood connection in the lungs where the blood
could boil off.

Slow leaks during high altitude flight are far more dangerous...

Only if they aren't noticed. ;-)

In the movie, "2001", the computer (Hal) turns nasty, and starts bumping
off the crew of the space ship. The last survivor, Dr. Frank Poole gets
locked outside, in an EVA pod. Hal has locked all the doors, and the
only chance Poole has of getting back in is to use the emergency airlock
- the only door which can be opened manually from the outside.
Unfortunately, Poole has forgotten to take his space helmet.
Nevertheless, he does make it back inside the ship. Find out how, in
next week's thrilling episode of "2001: A Space Odyssey".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2001:_A...sey_%28film%29

But would he in real life?

--
Roger Chapman