Space - Crush Pressure

Kimbo · 05-02-2013, 01:28 PM

Two related questions:

(1) What is the crush pressure of a space ship?
and
(2) At what depth inside a gas giant, would that atmospheric pressure be reached?

Taken together, these two questions become: How far down inside a gas giant can I fly my spaceship before it implodes like a sinking-submarine in a WWII movie?

I realize this question might be highly hypothetical and thus arbitrary. "A spaceship can withstand as much pressure as it is designed to withstand. If its specs say 50 atmospheres, then it is good to 50." Okay, but what is a believable, reasonable, number for that upper pressure (crush limit)?

Probably, the answer to this question will be complex - an equation of multiple variables. For instance, Tech Level probably plays a role. (The Millenium Falcon probably can withstand higher pressures than our 1970's Apollo spaceships). What else is part of the equation? Size? Armor? Shape (Streamlined vs. Not)?

The second part of the question also most certainly depends on variables - the size, diameter, mass, and density of the particular Gas Giant. A generic formula works fine, but in this case, the specific gas giant I am considering is roughly 5 times the size of Jupiter, or a mass 1650xEarth, with Diameter 14xEarth, and Surface Gravity of 8.4G.

Lastly, a third related question: (3) Supposing an acceleration of 1.4G on a streamlined hull, how long (assume terminal velocity) would it take to fall to this hypothetical crush depth?

That is, suppose a 10G Contragravity Lifter malfunctioned, or was only working at 70% efficiency (only canceling 7G above a world with 8.4G, thus net downward force of 1.4G), how long would the ship's Mechanic have (while the ship is falling) to fix the Contragravity Lifter before the atmospheric pressure crushes them? Seconds? Minutes?

Thanks in advance!

05-02-2013, 01:28 PM	#1
Kimbo Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Minnesota	Space - Crush Pressure Two related questions: (1) What is the crush pressure of a space ship? and (2) At what depth inside a gas giant, would that atmospheric pressure be reached? Taken together, these two questions become: How far down inside a gas giant can I fly my spaceship before it implodes like a sinking-submarine in a WWII movie? I realize this question might be highly hypothetical and thus arbitrary. "A spaceship can withstand as much pressure as it is designed to withstand. If its specs say 50 atmospheres, then it is good to 50." Okay, but what is a believable, reasonable, number for that upper pressure (crush limit)? Probably, the answer to this question will be complex - an equation of multiple variables. For instance, Tech Level probably plays a role. (The Millenium Falcon probably can withstand higher pressures than our 1970's Apollo spaceships). What else is part of the equation? Size? Armor? Shape (Streamlined vs. Not)? The second part of the question also most certainly depends on variables - the size, diameter, mass, and density of the particular Gas Giant. A generic formula works fine, but in this case, the specific gas giant I am considering is roughly 5 times the size of Jupiter, or a mass 1650xEarth, with Diameter 14xEarth, and Surface Gravity of 8.4G. Lastly, a third related question: (3) Supposing an acceleration of 1.4G on a streamlined hull, how long (assume terminal velocity) would it take to fall to this hypothetical crush depth? That is, suppose a 10G Contragravity Lifter malfunctioned, or was only working at 70% efficiency (only canceling 7G above a world with 8.4G, thus net downward force of 1.4G), how long would the ship's Mechanic have (while the ship is falling) to fix the Contragravity Lifter before the atmospheric pressure crushes them? Seconds? Minutes? Thanks in advance! __________________ "This signature line intentionally left blank."