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Apparently you can survive about 40 seconds in a vacuum. One option would be for one pilot to enter (as quickly as possible!) then put the CMP into a spacesuit,

Apparently you can survive about 40 seconds in a vacuum. One option would be for one pilot to enter (as quickly as possible!) then put the CMP into a spacesuit, then re-admit the other astronaut. No clue if they could enter and re-pressurize the capsule within 30 seconds- sounds like a long-shot. https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20627561-700-maxed-out-how-long-could-you-survive-a-vacuum/ https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg20627561-700-maxed-ou...

JohnBooty 5y ago
It takes about 45 minutes to don a modern spacesuit -- and that assumes the person donning the spacesuit is assisting with the process, not incapacitated. https://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/spacesuits/facts/index.html https://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/spacesuits/facts/... Edit: This says it can actually be done in five minutes in an emergency if one's willing to skip every safety check, but getting an unresponsive person into one seems like surely it would be more of a challenge -- particularly if the "helper" was wearing a spacesuit himself. Those things are awfully restrictive! And I would wager it's not a scenario they practiced. https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/how-do-you-put-apollo-spacesuit https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/how-do-you-put-...
- iainmerrick 5y ago
  I think they are suggesting: - Enter the command module, in spacesuit - Quickly re-pressurize - Help incapacitated astronaut into suit (temporarily removing own suit if necessary) - Once both suited up, open airlock again to admit remaining astronaut But I’m not sure if that would have been possible. Was there really a way to re-pressurize in a few seconds, 2001 style?
  - ud_0 5y ago
    > - Help incapacitated astronaut into suit (temporarily removing own suit if necessary) > - Once both suited up, open airlock again to admit remaining astronaut These steps don't seem to be necessary. Since the CM can be opened from the inside towards the LM, the third astronaut could just wait in the LM and be let in that way. I think the only question is really how quickly can you repressurize the CM. It was basically a cone-shaped pressure vessel 3.23m tall and 3.91m wide, that's 51.71m^3 of volume. I'd estimate about 50% is taken up by machinery, so how fast can you repressurize 25m^3 to 1/3 sea level (which was apparently standard for the spacecraft)? My guess would be it could be done pretty quickly, maybe 2 minutes?
    - herendin2 5y ago
      Your insight suggests an even better solution: the spacewalking astronaut could open the internal hatch to the docked Lunar Module so its cabin air can instantly partially repressurize the Command Module
      - ud_0 5y ago
        Maybe, IF the hatch can be opened when there is a pressure difference. It might be dangerous or even mechanically locked out in those cases. It may not, I have no idea. I mean we're just guessing and spitballing here, and all of this assumes that whatever incapacitated the CMP is fixable by the other astronaut. But it does look like there may be a decent chance the CMP could survive this. Of course, he might have internal injuries or they might not be able to restart his heart. But seems like this procedure would be worth a try.
      - Breza 5y ago
        Opening the hatch was a huge pain. They'd have to disassemble the rather phallic docking mechanism (as Collins described it). Not being able to disassemble it was one of the fears Collins had about Apollo 11.

JohnBooty 5y ago

It takes about 45 minutes to don a modern spacesuit -- and that assumes the person donning the spacesuit is assisting with the process, not incapacitated. https://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/spacesuits/facts/index.html https://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/spacesuits/facts/... Edit: This says it can actually be done in five minutes in an emergency if one's willing to skip every safety check, but getting an unresponsive person into one seems like surely it would be more of a challenge -- particularly if the "helper" was wearing a spacesuit himself. Those things are awfully restrictive! And I would wager it's not a scenario they practiced. https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/how-do-you-put-apollo-spacesuit https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/how-do-you-put-...

iainmerrick 5y ago
I think they are suggesting: - Enter the command module, in spacesuit - Quickly re-pressurize - Help incapacitated astronaut into suit (temporarily removing own suit if necessary) - Once both suited up, open airlock again to admit remaining astronaut But I’m not sure if that would have been possible. Was there really a way to re-pressurize in a few seconds, 2001 style?
- ud_0 5y ago
  > - Help incapacitated astronaut into suit (temporarily removing own suit if necessary) > - Once both suited up, open airlock again to admit remaining astronaut These steps don't seem to be necessary. Since the CM can be opened from the inside towards the LM, the third astronaut could just wait in the LM and be let in that way. I think the only question is really how quickly can you repressurize the CM. It was basically a cone-shaped pressure vessel 3.23m tall and 3.91m wide, that's 51.71m^3 of volume. I'd estimate about 50% is taken up by machinery, so how fast can you repressurize 25m^3 to 1/3 sea level (which was apparently standard for the spacecraft)? My guess would be it could be done pretty quickly, maybe 2 minutes?
  - herendin2 5y ago
    Your insight suggests an even better solution: the spacewalking astronaut could open the internal hatch to the docked Lunar Module so its cabin air can instantly partially repressurize the Command Module
    - ud_0 5y ago
      Maybe, IF the hatch can be opened when there is a pressure difference. It might be dangerous or even mechanically locked out in those cases. It may not, I have no idea. I mean we're just guessing and spitballing here, and all of this assumes that whatever incapacitated the CMP is fixable by the other astronaut. But it does look like there may be a decent chance the CMP could survive this. Of course, he might have internal injuries or they might not be able to restart his heart. But seems like this procedure would be worth a try.
    - Breza 5y ago
      Opening the hatch was a huge pain. They'd have to disassemble the rather phallic docking mechanism (as Collins described it). Not being able to disassemble it was one of the fears Collins had about Apollo 11.