Laatzen Luftfahrtmuseum Hannover-Laatzen - USSR MIG Pressure suit
The region from sea level to around 3,000 m is known as the physiological-efficient zone. Oxygen levels are usually high enough for humans to function without supplemental oxygen and decompression sickness is rare.
The physiological-deficient zone extends from 3,700 m to about 15,000 m. There is an increased risk of problems such as hypoxia, trapped-gas dysbarism (where gas trapped in the body expands), and evolved-gas dysbarism (where dissolved gases such as nitrogen may form in the tissues, i.e. decompression sickness). Above approximately 10,000 m oxygen-rich breathing mixture is required to approximate the oxygen available in the lower atmosphere, while above 12,000 m oxygen must be under positive pressure. Above 19,000 m, also known as the Armstrong limit, fluids in the throat and lungs will boil away. Generally, 100% oxygen is used to maintain an equivalent altitude of 3,000 m.
Suits that only pressurize certain parts of the body, they can only provide protection up to a certain altitude. These do not provide protection for extended periods of time at low ambient pressure.
Laatzen Luftfahrtmuseum Hannover-Laatzen - USSR MIG Pressure suit
The region from sea level to around 3,000 m is known as the physiological-efficient zone. Oxygen levels are usually high enough for humans to function without supplemental oxygen and decompression sickness is rare.
The physiological-deficient zone extends from 3,700 m to about 15,000 m. There is an increased risk of problems such as hypoxia, trapped-gas dysbarism (where gas trapped in the body expands), and evolved-gas dysbarism (where dissolved gases such as nitrogen may form in the tissues, i.e. decompression sickness). Above approximately 10,000 m oxygen-rich breathing mixture is required to approximate the oxygen available in the lower atmosphere, while above 12,000 m oxygen must be under positive pressure. Above 19,000 m, also known as the Armstrong limit, fluids in the throat and lungs will boil away. Generally, 100% oxygen is used to maintain an equivalent altitude of 3,000 m.
Suits that only pressurize certain parts of the body, they can only provide protection up to a certain altitude. These do not provide protection for extended periods of time at low ambient pressure.