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"[Science fiction] is the one literary medium left in which we have a free hand. We can do any damn thing we please."
- Alfred Bester
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| Evacuating Arms | ||
| Empty out the contents of an airlock exposed to space. |
If you wanted to make sure that all the trash in the airlock would be successfully dumped into space, you'll need some way to clear out the compartment.
| The inner valve of the airlock clanged open. “Good-by, my young friend!” said Corad mockingly, as the squad of Venusians thrust the youth into the dividing compartment. “And may the devils of space find you good company!” The air-tight metal panel rang hollowly like a coffin lid as it closed upon Trilbey, shutting the derisive chatter of voices and the hum of busy machinery from his ears with terrifying abruptness. Then the outer door of the airlock opened, and the steel evacuating arms, used to cast off sacks and bundles of refuse, slid out of their concealing sockets in the wall, clutched him and thrust him forth. |
| Technovelgy from Space Flotsam,
by Raymond Z. Gallun. Published by Astounding Science Fiction in 1934 Additional resources -
|
Now, read Robert Heinlein's treatment of this subject in Misfit (1939). A bunch of new recruits had thrown up all over each other the first time they were exposed to zero gee:
At the starboard spacelock, the kits were put in first, the inner door closed, and the outer opened. When the inner door was opened the kits were gone — blown out into space by the escaping air.
Pinkie addressed McCoy, “Do we have to throw away our dirty clothes, too?”
“Huh uh. We’ll just give them a dose of vacuum. Take ’em into the lock and stop ’em to those hooks on the bulkheads. Tie ’em tight.”
This time the lock was left closed for about five minutes. When the lock was opened the garments were bone dry — all the moisture boiled out by the vacuum of space. All that remained was a sterile powdery residue.
McCoy viewed them with approval. “They’ll do. Take them back to the compartment. Then brush them — hard — in front of the exhaust blowers.”
McCoy looked it over, and spoke, “Now peel off them dirty duds, and change your kits. Three or four of you bring everything along to the starboard lock.”
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