• Question: How long does oxigen last outside the rocket?

    Asked by 548nch35 to Simon, Julia, Delma, Andrew, Alex on 14 Dec 2015.
    • Photo: Alexander Finch

      Alexander Finch answered on 14 Dec 2015:

      Well, in space, oxygen lasts “forever” – or close it that!

      The rocket tries to keep all the oxygen inside it though. If it get out of the rocket or spaceship into space, then it’s lost and can’t be used.

      Oxygen is needed for several important things! Rockets have lots and lots of oxygen in them that they mix with the fuel to burn and make their thrust – unlike fires on the ground, there is no air in space so rockets must carry their own. Oxygen is of course needed by astronauts in space, so some is needed for that too. On some spacecraft – like the Shuttle – the electricity generator also need oxygen to work (this is called a fuel cell)! So it’s very useful chemical to have around…

Comments