How do you get rid of the body of a dead astronaut

[Connonym]

No joke

<snip> CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- How do you get rid of the body of a dead astronaut on a three-year mission to Mars and back?

When should the plug be pulled on a critically ill astronaut who is using up precious oxygen and endangering the rest of the crew? Should NASA employ DNA testing to weed out astronauts who might get a disease on a long flight?

With NASA planning to land on Mars 30 years from now, and with the recent discovery of the most "Earth-like" planet ever seen outside the solar system, the space agency has begun to ponder some of the thorny practical and ethical questions posed by deep space exploration.


http://www.salon.com/wire/ap/archive.html?wire=D8ORNACG0.html

[ThomCat]

1. I've very glad this is a theoretical question.

When I first saw your title I was worried that NASA had another problem on their hands. :P

[Little Wing]

2. Break out the emergency Chianti, of course

[Elidor]

5. Don't forget the fava beans n/t

[Parche]

3. Dead Astronaut

You beam him down to the planet below......................

[xmas74]

4. I miss Scotty,

may he rest in peace.

[sniffa]

6. i'm waiting for the feed-schiavo peopLe to show up

and picket NASA.

[EstimatedProphet]

7. Just tie him to the outside of the ship

He won't decompose or anything

[sarge43]

8. Ask HAL. I'm sure he'd think of something. n/t

[Twillig]

9. Never EVA to check on the AE-35 antannae!

Never get off the fucking boat! (unless you're going all the way, of course)

[sarge43]

11. Never EVA without your helmet. Smooth move Bowman. n/t

[rug]

10. The first spacecraft they send will be called Donner.