• Question: Why can't we breath in outer-space?

    Asked by to Fiona, Kevin on 27 Jun 2014. This question was also asked by .
    • Photo: Fiona McLean

      Fiona McLean answered on 27 Jun 2014:

      This is a really interesting question! We can’t breathe in outer space because space is a vacuum and there is virtually no gas there (although I think there is some but in verrryyy low levels). To breathe we need there to be gas and certain types. On Earth the air is made up of approximately 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and under 1% of other gases including carbon dioxide, argon and water vapour. This is the environment that we exist best in and since space doesn’t have this we can’t breathe there!

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