Re: Jovian Chronicles GZG Adaptation

>>You can survive even hard vacuum for some time (it's not nice and may 
>>result in permanent damage, but it's survivable) -- patching a suit 
>>should a be routine operation for trained troops. You don't have to
take 
>>my word for it, ask NASA -- they've tried it (with monkeys I hope).
>
>So, just how long is 'for some time' in a vacuum? 10 seconds, 20 on the
>outside? 15 seconds would be a long time to chew vacuum, and you're not
>going to be in very good shape to do any suit patching. You'll lose
>consciousness rather quickly.

How long does the "airlock" sequence in 2001 last - a few seconds before
Bowman closes the outer door and hits the O2 flood valve? I'd assume
that
most military or heavy worksuits would have self-sealing compounds
layered
between the suit fabric to cope with smallish punctures. Alternatively,
there is always the system they use in The Forever War - where a sharp
sphincter valve on the PA suit chops off a damaged limb and seals
itself,
then pumps the casualty full of antishock drugs.... ;) 

More seriously, I've thought before about doing a zero-G suit combat
game
on the outer hull of a ship, where each figure has VERY limited fuel in
his
maneuvering pack and uses vector movement.... could be fun, I think I
can
feel a rules set coming on.... :)

Jon (GZG)
>
>Mk
>-----------------------------------------------------------------------
--
>During the run-and-fight-and-run-again battle through this forest of
horror,
>she is finally cornered. Her weapons have been left deep in the bodies
of the
>slain or broken against the granite-hard scales of these snakes that
are not
>snakes. Her stand to the death must be fought here. Though her only
weapons
>are her hands and her deep and wide knowledge of the slayers, she does
not
>fear them. They will die. Of this she is sure.