Would a Submarine Work as a Spaceship?
xkcd's What If?・5 minutes read
Nuclear submarines can withstand high pressures and keep air contained in space, but overheating due to lack of water for cooling poses a major issue with the nuclear reactor potentially causing a meltdown within an hour, making it impractical for orbit.
Insights
- Nuclear submarines can maintain air pressure in space, but face oxygen depletion due to the absence of water to extract oxygen from, posing a significant challenge for prolonged missions.
- Overheating is a critical concern for nuclear submarines in space, as the lack of water for cooling can lead to a reactor meltdown within an hour, rendering orbiting submarines impractical for extended durations.
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Recent questions
Can nuclear submarines function in space?
No, nuclear submarines cannot function in space due to overheating issues.
How do submarines extract oxygen in space?
Submarines cannot extract oxygen in space.
What is the main issue for nuclear submarines in space?
Overheating is the main issue for nuclear submarines in space.
Why can't nuclear submarines be kept in space?
Nuclear submarines cannot be kept in space due to overheating risks.
What prevents nuclear submarines from functioning in space?
Lack of water cooling prevents nuclear submarines from functioning in space.
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Summary
00:00
"Challenges of Nuclear Submarines in Space"
- Nuclear submarines can withstand high external pressures, making them airtight and capable of containing air in space, preventing rapid air escape.
- While submarines have CO2 scrubbers for carbon dioxide, they rely on extracting oxygen from water, which is unavailable in space, leading to oxygen depletion over time.
- The major issue in space for a nuclear submarine would be overheating due to the lack of water for cooling, with the nuclear reactor generating enough heat to cause a meltdown within an hour, making it impractical to keep the submarine in orbit.
