Vacuum
equipment:
Terragens civilization has been a spacefaring culture, living in close
proximity with vacuum and low-pressure environments, for thousands of
years. One result of this has been the creation of a number of races
and clades who are adapted in various ways for low pressure or
vacuum
conditions. Many of these beings
are designed to literally live in deep space and have no need or desire
to ever come into contact with even low levels of atmospheric pressure.
Of these only a small minority are of biological descent. The majority
of bionts still breath, and still require conditions of temperature and
pressure that make protection from the deep space environment a
necessity. As a result of this, mindkind has derived a number of
technologies to both survive and thrive in the cold and airlessness of
between the habitats and worlds.
Airdust:
Originally known as
respirocytes,
airdust was first envisioned as far
back as the Information Age by the technological philosopher Robert
Freitas. It was not until the Interplanetary Age, with its initial
development of
'dry'
nanotech, that they were
achieved however. Respirocytes represent one of the earliest
'nanomedicine' technologies and are even today one of the best known
examples of nanomedical technology and nanotechnics in general.
Designed originally as a medical device, airdust consists of huge
numbers of nanotechic 'air tanks' each approximately 1 micron across
and containing a small charge of air at 1000-atm pressure. Constructed
of diamondoid, respirocyte tanks were more then adequate to contain
such high pressure gases. Each respirocyte also contains a simple valve
and pumping system that permits it to both take in atmospheric gases or
release them.
Originally, airdust was developed as a medical enhancement or emergency
replacement for human blood, allowing a massive charge of oxygen to be
introduced into the body very quickly. Later advancements in the
technology also allowed airdust to be used to remove CO2 or other
gases, such as nitrogen from the body and blood.
A one liter 'augmentation dose' of 50% respirocyte solution injected
into the bloodstream will permit a neb or baseline sophont to cease
breathing for anywhere from 12 minutes to 3.8 standard hours depending
on exertion levels. For sophonts preparing to travel into space,
standard safety procedure is to receive an injection of airdust
solution prior to departure. This provides both a 'built-in' air supply
in the event of an emergency loss of pressure as well as making
external air tanks unnecessary for most extra-vehicular activities.
Since airdust particles can operate almost indefinitely inside a
sophont body, and can be 'recharged' by several hours of normal
respiration or some minutes of hyperventilation, even a single trip
into space will leave a sophont with the ability to 'hold their breath'
for hours from that point forward. Although nanotechic scrubbing can
remove airdust from the body, most bionts don't bother, preferring to
simply retain the enhanced breathing ability that airdust provides even
if they never travel into space again.
On habitats and low-pressure/zero-pressure planetary colonies, initial
airdust injections are usually made shortly after birth, with steadily
increasing 'booster shots' being provided until the child reaches
physical maturity and more comprehensive technologies (see Nanolung)
can be provided.
In certain cyborg clades the airdust concept has been taken even
further, with the blood fluid completely replaced by so-called
vasculoid technology; a single, contiguous nanomedical oxygen supply
system typically made of sapphiroid which allows for extended periods
of operation in vacuum.
Nanolung:
A nanolung is a direct extension of airdust technology. It provides a
centralized docking station for 'onboard' airdust components and
exchanges gases either with the lungs or with exogenous gas supplies.
While smaller nanolungs (250cm3, .3-7hrs O2 supply depending on
exertion levels) are occasionally used for specialized purposes or by
some cyborgs or frequent travellers, a more common solution is the
replacement of one lung with a larger system (3250cm3) that provides
from 4 to 87 hours of oxygen depending on exertion levels.
In many space based polities and habitats, nanolungs are commonly
provided to all citizens upon physical maturity. Many societies and
clades use the implantation of the nanolung as the opportunity to mark
the transition to adulthood with everything from formal tattooing
ceremonies, to celebrations, to extended sporting or sexual events
during which no actual breathing takes place.
Thinsuit:
Thinsuits are designed to provide 'short-term' protection from the
rigors of space. They are nano-constructed devices that are intended to
protect the wearer from the vacuum, temperature, and radiation extremes
of space without having to contend with the various functions of the
biont body such as eating, drinking, or voiding of wastes.
The basic structure of a thinsuit is a somewhat rubbery looking layer
of material of about 1mm thickness. Sensors and tactile feedback
circuits in the suit cause it to transmit textures thru the suit to the
wearer, while supporting nanobots clean both the suit and the wearer by
absorbing and recycling/removing moisture and materials from sweat,
body oils, and the flaking of dead skin. Nanoflywheel clusters dotted
around the suit and partially recharged from body movements provide
power, used for both general suit operations and low level magnetic
shielding.
Thinsuits are smart matter devices that can flow and extend in a
semi-liquid manner. Under normal conditions they are worn under the
clothing (of those societies that employ clothing) with the hands,
head, and sometimes feet uncovered. However, either at the users
command or if a drop in air pressure is detected, the thinsuit will
'flow' to cover the wearers unprotected head and extremities, providing
them with airtight protection in a matter of seconds.
Once deployed, the thinsuit then configures itself into a comfortable
mask-like arrangement around the wearer’s head, bulging out
over the eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. Phased array display
elements over the eyes allow the user to see across a wide range of the
electromagnetic spectrum and provide text and graphic information as
required. Vibrating membranes in the earpieces of the suit
provide full-spectrum audio interfacing.
Combined with airdust or a nanolung, thinsuits allow the average biont
to operate in (and in close proximity to) a vacuum environment with
both ease and safety.
Related Pages
Thicksuit
Deepspacer
Sailors
of the Ebon Sea
