RE: [GZG Fiction] Seventy Dead after Freighter Accident

>I read something on the NASA site a long time ago about operations in
>low-pressure environments. Not vacuum, but quite low.
>With breathing systems, that would get rid of a lot of the potential
danger
>from fire and explosive decompression.
>
>I'll see if I can find the link...
>
>>  This is certainly a valid assumption - _if_ the vacc suits are good
>>  enough that you don't lose massive amounts of dexterity while
wearing
>>  them. This is not true of current zero-atmosphere pressure suits;
>>  personally I think it's a reasonable assumption for the fairly near
>>  future, but not everyone agrees with me.
>>
>>  Also consider the practicalities of trying to give someone first aid
in
>>  zero pressure. Suddenly a small splinter causes a potentially fatal
>>  wound.
>
>Edward Lipsett
>Fukuoka, Japan

For what it's worth, I'd envisaged most of the non-essential and/or 
outboard compartments being vented before battle, but atmosphere 
retained in the more vital and occupied inner sections to allow 
easier and less tiring crew operations; during actual combat, most 
crew are in light vacc suits to protect against decompression of 
vital ship areas due to internal damage. Damage Control parties, who 
regularly work in the depressurised and most dangerous areas of the 
ship while enemy fire is still incoming, are in much heavier vacc 
suits virtually equivalent to Power Armour - but probably with 
flexibility and manual dexterity taking priority over extreme armour 
protection - they would have enough to protect against smaller flying 
debris, heat etc., and against being thrown into bulkheads and 
stanchions when the ship's combat antics temporarily overload the 
G-compensators....

Note that none of this is supposed to be especially "accurate", just 
to have a good feel for game background and fiction possibilities...

Jon (GZG)