What Would Happen If You Shot a Gun in Space? (Space.com article)

[TheWabbit]

What Would Happen If You Shot a Gun In Space? | Space.com

Now I'm curious about the Russian firearm described in the article. Here is pic of it:

 

[indykid]

Think of Newton's Laws, very well described in the article.

 

[IndyGunworks]

Cool gun.

 

[Clay]

gun goes off, bullet travels in straight line, you travel in the opposite direction of bullet.

yes, a gun will fire in space. It doesnt need oxygen. Gunpowder has its own oxidizer.

 

[qb1sho]

The small bullet probably wouldnt be too interesting....

BUT....

Think if you shot something that was at or exceeding your body mass! That could be an interesting ride for the person shooting the weapon!

<----------------->

Just a theory...could be wrong!

 

[kludge]

I'd never though of the expanding universe, intergalactic angle before... that's pretty cool...

 

[rhino]

I'm feeling nitpicky.

The impulse imparted on the shooter would come not just from the projectile, but also the gases expanding and exiting the barrel at high speed. I'd expect more from the gases than the projectile, actually, but I didn't do any calculations.

 

[singlestacksig]

the russians send up the gun because the Voskhod 2 mission landed 800 miles off course & the guys had to live in the forest , fend off wolves for 2 days before recovery crew got there.. since then they are provided with survival gear ..

 

[Clay]

Rhino, I expect a complete free body diagram delivered to me tomorrow night at the NRA banquet.

 

[ISP 5353]

I am going to have to re-calculate the come ups on my scope for zero gravity! I'll get back to you! What was the BC on that bullet again? Where is my calculator?

 

[Clay]

bullet will travel straight in what ever direction it was fired............. forever.......

 

[Sylvain]

I wonder if US astraunauts get guns issued by the NASA when they are in space.
I bet every gun company would love to have their gun picked by the NASA for space travel.
Just like the NASA picked Victorinox and Emerson knives to be issued to their astraunauts.

 

[John Galt]

If it's a .45, it will disintegrate the first planet it hits!

 

[Boost Lee]

Where do I apply for a License To Orbit Earth Carrying Handgun?

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

I wonder if US astraunauts get guns issued by the NASA when they are in space.

Nah...I'm betting the shuttle was a gun free zone. It is federal property, after all

 

[Sylvain]

Nah...I'm betting the shuttle was a gun free zone. It is federal property, after all

I dont think that they would let the public know anyway.
But if the Russians take guns into space I dont see why the Americans would not do the same.
Im talking just handguns for protection against aliens or aginst the Russian astronauts that are armed in case they try to take over the international space station.

I think the mission commander has the key of a safe with a few Glocks (because weight is a concern in space) to throw to his crew in case the mission goes south.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

He or she should feel free to shoot from the hip. According to Robert Flack, a physicist at University College London, the enormous gravitational field of Jupiter is likely to suck in a bullet even if it is badly aimed. "Jupiter is so huge, it will capture the bullet and then it will follow a curved path down into the planet," Flack said.

It's good to know the accusation that I can't hit the broad side of a barn wouldnt hold up out in space.

 

[blamecharles]

It's good to know the accusation that I can't hit the broad side of a barn wouldnt hold up out in space.

Nah then you couldn't hit the broad side of a planet.

 

[GodFearinGunTotin]

Nah then you couldn't hit the broad side of a planet.

Don't burst my bubble, dude!

It said even a poorly aimed bullet would hit Jupiter. Poorly aimed...That's me!

 

[pops66goat]

I would say the bullet would continue to accelerate until it hit something!