Jupiter squeezes and pulls on its moon, Io, so hard it has 400 active volcanoes.
Jupiter's gravity is so powerful that it physically squeezes its moons while they are in orbit. Io's orbit is slightly elliptical, meaning its distance from Jupiter constantly changes, causing its gravitational pull to squeeze and stretch its interior. This constant flexing generates so much internal heat that portions of Io literally melt, resulting in around 400 active volcanoes on its surface. This has made Io the most volcanically active body in the entire solar system.
Space suits don’t just provide oxygen. They are essentially a non-flying, wearable spaceship.
The Earth’s atmosphere does a lot of work we never think about. It provides air to breathe, maintains pressure on our bodies, and regulates temperature. In space, none of that exists. A spacesuit replicates the Earth’s atmosphere by supplying oxygen, maintaining the correct pressure, and regulating temperature through layers of insulation and a built-in cooling system. During a spacewalk, temperatures in space swing from -250°F in the shade to +250°F in direct sunlight.
Written By:
Emilee Brown (B.A. Astrophysics)
References:
NASA - "NASA Langley researcher (Kenneth R. Yenni) tries out a proposal for an Apollo space suit"
