Suicide in space

[Lakitu]

A friend and I were watching the movie 'Sunshine' the other evening. My friend had missed the start so I had explained the story so far was that they were travelling to the sun and after a series of events the craft's 'oxygen garden' had caught fire and the oxygen in the tanks were all they had, which was enough to get to the sun but not enough to get back to earth again so they knew they were going to die.

My friend told me that although NASA do not admit to it, astronauts are given Cyanide should anything go wrong.

Is this accurate?

If it is accurate, then why would NASA deny something like that? It seems a sensible idea to me, I'd rather do that than float about space slowly dying.

[ChuckFickens]

the question i'd be asking the friend is if they do but NASA deny it, then how does he/she know... where they an astronaut for NASA?

it has been rumored for years that this is the case, but several astronauts have denied it in interviews, including Jim Lovell of Apollo 13.

http://bp3.blogger.com/_9qiNGYkITRQ/SBcm3BuW3M I/AAAAAAAADFk/sK3FylfOvnE/s1600-h/inspace.png

[Lakitu]

Access denied on my work server for that link, I'll have a look when I get home (optimism that my net will be connected!).

No my pal has never been an astronaut LOL, but I will ask how they know!

Whether it's true or not, it makes me wonder what contongencies NASA have in place should such an eventuality occur. It's not like anyone can pop out there and help the stricken astronauts.

Euthanasia seems like a sensible option to me....

[dundurn]

Of the three things that humans need to survive; air, food and water, we can survive longer wthout food than water and longer without water than air. On any space mission launched to date, they would have run out of air before lack of food or water would have become a problem. As a result suicide pills are unnecessary.

[MrBounty]

By taking a suicide pill, one can assume that the pill will give a painless death.
By suffocating to death, starving to death or dying of lack of water all incur suffering for the victim.....surely the "humane" thing to do in a case where the astronauts WILL die is for them to be able to take a pill which will kill them without any pain.
Surely that is better than any suffering?

And with regards to NASA and past astronauts denying this procedure exists, why would such a huge company and people so much in the limelight admit to, at the end of the day, having a procedure which would kill people?
They wouldnt?
The human rights folks would have a field day! lol
They deny all knowledge about it, keeping it from the general public, but still have it as an absolute last resort?

Why so difficult to believe?

[Lakitu]

MrBounty, you've said far more eloquently what I was trying to.

I'd much rather take the pill than be left to suffer such a terrible fate in space.

But surely all the human rights people would understand that the astronaut is going to die regardless? It's not like someone lying in a hospital bed with a CHANCE they might not pull through!

[Dr-Legend]

In space noone hears you cry





Couldnt have put it nicer myself.

[MrBounty]

But a company like NASA cannont be seen to condone such actions.

The likes of those who would be against such a pill would be all for asking for the astronauts to be saved (somehow) and no suicide pill to be taken....and no death "promoted" by NASA!

If NASA keep quiet about such a pill, then it's always going to be a rumour that no one knows if it is true....keeping NASA in good light with everyone.

I agree that taking a pill for a painless death is much better than suffering before dying, but thats just the way it is - there will always be someone out there who will oppose such an action....

[Lakitu]

I realise there will always be someone who would oppose such a thing, but surely it's up to the astronaut? It's not like he or she is in a hospital being kept alive!

The chances of "someone going up there" to save the stricken astronauts are so slim, it's common sense to have the option.....

I do, however, concede that it's probably best NASA deny knowledge if this is true, though I don't see why they should have to.

[jake-the-peg]

I think it's pretty unlikely.

Issueing astronauts with suicide pills would definately have a negative psycological effect and that's a major issue in longer missions.

Beside which the riskier parts of a space mission (like an aircraft flight) are in launch and re-entry, wher such a pill would be pretty pointless.

Also we're not talking about commandos getting captured and tortured here - I rather suspect that NASA would take the view that if you're asking for a suicide pill you're not made of the Right Stuff

[jno]

as I recall (and I may be wrong) those astronauts who have died have done so much quicker than a cyanide pill would do it. They haven't died slowly of thirst, they've gone up in a fireball.

[Lakitu]

Jake, I'm sorry, I hadn't realised you replied so long ago! Yes, you have a point RE NASA not feeling they were made of the right stuff if they needed the pill.

I know JNO, as far as I am aware, all missions that have failed and resulted in death has been during take off or landing - I don't know that for sure, only memory.

OK, for the purpose of this film (which is a waste of 90 minutes of you life BTW), say we humans DO have the ability to fly to a planet so far away that it warrants an oxygen garden and all the food and water supplies they'll ever need for a trip like that is on board, don't you think that mabe it would be a good idea to hand something like that to the astronauts?

They've almost made it to their destination, something happens that completely wipes out the oxygen garden and they know they don't have enough to get home (but they have loads of food and water!). Wouldn't suffocating under those circumstances be awful and nomatter what the pro lifers say, taking a tablet to end it, which is going to happen anyway, is a better option?