Is a suited astronaut on EVA a spacecraft?

[Artlav]

Why should it be either a space suited person or a spacecraft?
It's both at once, no?

 

[T.Neo]

Also the astronaut can move by mechanic forces over the surface of another spacecraft...he is mobile, just not rocket propelled.

But it is the astronaut who is doing the moving, not the space suit.

The suit is only there to provide a life support function.

Does this mean that a human is a spacecraft? If I have legs and can move myself over the surface of the Earth, am I a land vehicle?

And if I can swim underwater, am I submarine?

 

[Urwumpe]

And if I can swim underwater, am I submarine?

if you can swim inside a hard-shelled suit, this suit is technically a submarine of its its own.

The difference between space debris and spacecraft is pretty simple: If it is still under control of a human, it is a spacecraft. If it is out of control, it is space debris.

 

[Loru]

From my point of view space suit is a manned spacecraft.

Propulsion isn't nescessary. Sputnik 1 was a spacecraft. Anything that can float in space and can perform its task on it's own is a spacecraft. May be not entire independent but still spacecraft. Look at life raft (dinghy). Even without oars (no propulsion) it's still considered a water craft. Look at ISS. It don't have propulsion system. It relies on other craft to boost it's orbit.

Wikipedia states.

Strictly speaking, the Manned Maneuvering Unit, the propulsion system used by spacewalking astronauts, could be counted as a manned spacecraft.

I disagree. Spacecraft don't need a propulsion system to be a spacecraft.

But that's my opinion.

 

[T.Neo]

if you can swim inside a hard-shelled suit, this suit is technically a submarine of its its own.

Point taken. :thumbup:

An EVA suit is not necessarily hard-shelled, but is analogous to a hard-shelled diving suit.

 

[Loru]

if you can swim inside a hard-shelled suit, this suit is technically a submarine of its its own.

The difference between space debris and spacecraft is pretty simple: If it is still under control of a human, it is a spacecraft. If it is out of control, it is space debris.

It don't have to be controled by human. Sputnik wasn't controled at all. But still it was performing its task (radio beeping)

 

[Urwumpe]

An EVA suit is not necessarily hard-shelled, but is analogous to a hard-shelled diving suit.

The important difference is IMHO that a few characteristics are given:

• It is under control of a human. An astronaut who drifts into space like Major Tom has to count as space debris.
• It has all subsystems of any spacecraft:
  • Primary structure
  • Thermal control System
  • Electrical Power System
  • Attitude Control System
  • Data Handling and Command System
  • Communication System
• It has also all subsystems mandatory for manned spacecraft
  • Environmental Control and Life Support System
  • Waste Collection System
  • Display and Control System
  • MMOD protection

All existing inside any space suit.

---------- Post added at 11:42 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:41 AM ----------

It don't have to be controled by human. Sputnik wasn't controled at all. But still it was performing its task (radio beeping)

True, but it was also technically under control since it never left its desired trajectory. :lol: You can also have controlled crashes.

 

[Henobic Theosapien]

Is a suited astronaut on EVA a spacecraft? Does it matter if they are using some sort of manuvering device? Is the suit itself a spacecraft? Are both a spacecraft?

Actualy, the suit itself is a spacecraft, because it using Live Support System, Fuel, Manauvering System, and other kind that are similiar with a spacecraft, but, of course, it cannot deorbiting itself, or don't have main thruster, it just RCS as thruster.

 

[Rtyh-12]

I think it can deorbit itself. The DV isn't that high, just a few tens of m/s. But the reentry could get painful...

 

[N_Molson]

I'd say an astronaut in EVA is no more a spacecraft than a diver (you have equivalents to the MMU underwater) is a submarine.

 

[C3PO]

I'd say an astronaut in EVA is no more a spacecraft than a diver (you have equivalents to the MMU underwater) is a submarine.

Yes, but the suit can be a submarine.

 

[N_Molson]

Quite close from a MMU...

 

[Topper]

Whats the difference between a spaceship and a spacecraft?
Is a car without an engine still a car?
Or is a bike without a human not a bike?
Can a wood without trees be a wood?

Noone knows...

 

[Urwumpe]

Noone knows...

somethings are known.

Whats the difference between a spaceship and a spacecraft?

A spaceship is big enough to carry a smaller spaceboat and requires to be commanded by a captain. Both spaceboats and spaceships are spacecraft.

Is a car without an engine still a car?

Yes.

Or is a bike without a human not a bike?

No.

Can a wood without trees be a wood?

Only by the name.

 

[N_Molson]

Playing with words, we could say that an astronaut in Extra-Vehicular Activity is, by definition, out of its spacecraft (its Vehicle)... :lol:

 

[Izack]

This sparked three pages of debate? :blink:

 

[Wishbone]

People are venting hydrogen after STS launch.

 

[Topper]

Is there another word for "synonym"?
Can a post off an off topic topic be off topic?

 

[Nazban]

Is there another word for "synonym"?
Can a post off an off topic topic be off topic?

(-x) * (-x) = +(x*x)

is this on topic??


but still an astronaut in a spacesuit is not a spacecraft, is a human called a vhicle?? No, hes called a human!!:facepalm:

 

[Urwumpe]

(-x) * (-x) = +x

:facepalm::facepalm:

In the speak slowly for the noobs math:
[math](-x) \cdot (-x) = (-1) \cdot x \cdot (-1) \cdot x = (-1) \cdot (-1) \cdot x \cdot x = 1 \cdot x^2 = x^2[/math]