From: henry@spsystems.net   
      
   In article <20031111181219.10213.00000037@mb-m01.aol.com>,   
   Velovich03  wrote:   
   >>Really fast depressurization may cause various bits of   
   >>unpleasantness because there won't be time for pressures to equalize in   
   >>places like your ears, but it still won't make you explode.   
   >   
   >   The "bends" would be an issue, but as you say, no "explosion"...   
      
   As I understand it, it's unlikely that you'd get major symptoms from the   
   bends in the 10-15s you have before you lose consciousness.  (I also think   
   it's unlikely that such symptoms would be your main worry even if you did   
   get them!).   
      
   Mundane and prosaic though it sounds, the dominant problem of a human   
   exposed to vacuum is simply lack of oxygen.  The other effects all seem to   
   be either reversible or at least nonlethal on the time scale required for   
   you to die of anoxia.   
   --   
   MOST launched 30 June; first light, 29 July; 5arcsec    | Henry Spencer   
   pointing, 10 Sept; first science, early Oct; all well.  | henry@spsystems.net   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)