Keeping the Pressure On

If the atmosphere inside a spacesuit is pure oxygen, a pressure equal to about one-third sea level pressure is sufficient. However, such low pressures require that the spacewalker breathe oxygen for several hours before going outside the space vehicle. This process eliminates nitrogen from the blood stream. If a higher suit-operating pressure can be achieved, an astronaut may don a suit and immediately exit the spacecraft for a spacewalk. A demonstration using simple, everyday objects can show one way of creating a workable spacesuit pressure.
Keeping the Pressure On Activity [314KB PDF file]
This document is part of the Suited for Spacewalking Educator Guide.