The Consequences of Death in Space: Insights from a Scientist

As space travel becomes more common, the possibility of someone dying in space raises questions about what happens to the body. If someone dies on a low-Earth-orbit mission, the crew can return the body to Earth within hours. On the Moon, the body could be returned home in a few days. However, if an astronaut dies during a trip to Mars, the body would likely be preserved in a separate chamber or specialized body bag until the crew returns to Earth. If an astronaut were to step outside into space without a spacesuit, they would die almost instantly due to the loss of pressure and exposure to the vacuum. Burial or cremation on Mars is not ideal due to energy requirements and contamination concerns, so the body would likely be preserved until it can be returned to Earth.