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Confused_Idol t1_isl5e5c wrote

Reply to comment by chaostheories36 in NASA aces test of robot balloon that could one day explore Venus by MicroSofty88

The atmosphere did less thick the higher in orbit you get, just like earth. So less pressure, less heat and less corrosive.

So in theory at least there a sweet spot that would allow for us to investigate from the air for extended periods of time.

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chaostheories36 t1_isl8zum wrote

Ahhh I was thinking about it the wrong way. I was only remembering that even the upper atmosphere is still a pretty horrible place to be, which is why they haven’t managed a balloon “rover” until … well not now but hopefully soon.

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Confused_Idol t1_isl9cq8 wrote

Well, they (Soviets, not NASA) kinda did back on the 80s. Vega.

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duffmanhb t1_isnmbln wrote

It’s wild to see that they managed to actually land, much less get a photo in those extreme temperatures

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Subject-Base6056 t1_islql66 wrote

Isnt it said that you could build whole floating structures in the atmosphere?

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Vast-Bus-8648 t1_ism4gh9 wrote

Aerostat platforms. Durable balloons filled with very light gas could support platforms with structures on them. You’d probably have to find a way to stabilize them in windstorms though.

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chaostheories36 t1_islu3p8 wrote

From a completely uneducated standpoint of someone that reads a lot of sci-fi, I think that’s a more reasonable expectation with Jupiter/Saturn?

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Vast-Bus-8648 t1_ism4u1q wrote

Not likely because the weather is likely more severe, and the radiation coming off those planets is insane (even establishing a land base on Jupiter’s moon Io you’d be getting a lot of radiation).

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Vast-Bus-8648 t1_ism4qa1 wrote

Not likely because the weather is likely more severe, and the radiation coming off those planets is insane (even establishing a land base on Jupiter’s moon Io you’d be getting a lot of radiation).

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GiveToOedipus t1_ismavdr wrote

Now all we need is a smooth talking gambler with a flair for fashion to win one in a card game.

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El_Zarco t1_islkq23 wrote

Cloud city, baby!

(I know it's outrageously impractical and unlikely but it's fun to imagine)

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Obamas_Tie t1_isln854 wrote

Floating research facilities and colonies have been a hallmark of Venus colonization in both science fiction and actual scientific consideration since the 70s I believe.

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musexistential t1_isls53b wrote

I think the biggest thing is that pressure equalization can be reached at a certain altitude, so that you would only need a mouthpiece and gas tanks so as to breath gases that humans can live with. Sort of like when sea diving on earth.

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Vast-Bus-8648 t1_ism51f5 wrote

I’m not sure, but I think at certain altitudes or possibly everywhere in the Venusian atmosphere there is sulphuric acid. So they still might need protective suits.

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musexistential t1_ismogy6 wrote

Question, what if I apply a sodium bicarbonate infused moisturizer on my skin?

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YouAreOnRedditNow t1_isn7agl wrote

I don't know about the Venus stuff, but if you jumped in a vat of vinegar with that moisturizer on it would create a basic demonstration of volcanic eruption.

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Jebediah_Johnson t1_ismas5y wrote

Up in the atmosphere where it's about 1 BAR it's like 100F° (38C°) there's still sulfuric acid but you could survive with an chemical suit, breathing air, and a little climate control.

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thenerdal t1_islig5l wrote

Me thinking hot air rises.

Also me remembering in Iron Man the final fight with Iron Monger gave him ice.

Thank you for confirming!

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Valendr0s t1_isn15p4 wrote

There's actually a sweet spot that humans could survive just fine. We could go outside with just an oxygen mask and only suffer mild skin irritation.

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