X-Message-Number: 1868
Date: 02 Mar 93 14:34:14 EST
From: Paul Wakfer <>
Subject: CRYONICS Entry Into -135*C Environment
From: Mike Darwin
To: All
Re: Entry into -135*C Environment
Date 1 March, 1993
Thanks to all who have expressed concern about my safety re my
proposed undertaking to enter a -135*C environment. Some of the postings
have been quite funny and have lifted my spirits a bit.
I'll reply to Mark Voelker first since his posting was the most
urgent (dare I say hysterical?). Mark, you are dealing with a couple of
medical guys here (S. Harris and I). We know a great deal about safety
with 100% (and high concentration) oxygen atmospheres since we work with
them all the time. Furthermore, I (if not Steve) date back to an era when
a material called ETHER was in use in anesthesia. Indeed, I have worked
with ether in high oxygen concentration anesthesia systems. Ether and
oxygen are NOT a good combination and yet I am still here. I point this
out because I now wish to point out some differences between Apollo and
Alcor:
1) The Apollo fire was a result of a degree of gross stupidity so
vast it is hard to put into words. While governments are by no means the
only agencies capable of such concentrated stupidity, they are right near
the top of the list for consistency in generating it. First of all,
quality control on the command module was terrible: investigators later
found wiring with insulation missing, socket wrenches left on nuts,
numerous sharp tools and multiple defects in wiring harnesses, and I
believe even a food item or two (if I remember correctly it was a dried
apple core): all of which had been left in place by the assembly workers.
2) Expecting hundreds or thousands of feet of wire and who knows how
many switches to be safe in an oxygen environment was not very bright even
if it was at 1/2 atmosphere. Compounding the problem by using magnesium
components in contact with electrical current in an oxygen atmosphere was,
well...stupid.
3) Having committed the first two errors, failing to plan for a fire
and have contingencies in place (like automatic fire extinguishing
capability) certainly didn't help matters any. Although, as will no doubt
be pointed out the fire moved FAST, as all high oxygen fires do.
4) I am not proposing to go into a dewar or enclosure with ANY wiring
or spark generating equipment. Stenciled on my brain are the words (which
appear on almost any electrical or mechanical medical device): "Not safe
for use in explosive or combustible atmospheres or in the presence of
combustible volatile anesthetics..."
5) LOX and hydrocarbons are hypergolic, however 100% oxygen is not.
I do not propose to go into a tank full of LOX or even one where there is
any significant amount of LOX.
6) Liquid air is a possible alternative, however precautions must be
taken to avoid distillation of the nitrogen. This may be guarded against
by using an oxygen concentration meter (of which I have several).
Furthermore, my concentration meters have alarms that go off below 20%
(and yes, they can be set-up to operate reliably in the extreme cold).
7) As long as someone is going into a 100% oxygen atmosphere without
spark sources or hypergolic material it should be reasonably safe (nothing
is 100% safe).
I would respond to Steve Bridge's posting largely by agreeing with
it. However, I would point out that my requests came first when I was
still both an employee and a suspension member. Hugh Hixon reacted like a
little old lady when I first broached the subject, and he has continued to
react as such. I merely submit that Little Old Ladies should not be
making such decisions. Indeed, Hugh Hixon has reacted in this manner to
EVERY significant change made at Alcor over the past decade (with the
notable exception of acquiring a computer). I am willing to give Alcor a
hold-harmless and release of liability (and believe I can get my next-of-
kin) to do so as well. The one caveat is that Carlos Mondragon, Keith
Henson and/or Dave Pizer not be the folks providing technical support...
As to my not being a suspension member. Really guys, would you WANT
a suspension member to do this? Think on the bright side, what if I die?
All you'll have to do will be to call the Coroner and all your problems
are over (in more ways than one, huh?!).
I had planned on using a D-cylinder of oxygen for my air supply and
keeping it and the regulator next to my body as Steve Harris suggests. D-
cylinders are smaller and easier to handle than E-cylinders and should
provide plenty of air for the short period of time I'll be in place.
I had thought of all the precautions that have been recommended but
one, and that was the use of LOX or liquid air as suggested by Steve
Harris. A good idea!
I was a bit surprised that no one picked up on the one other major
area of safety concern: SHOES. My feet will be in contact with VERY cold
metal, metal which will likely be intermediate in temperature between LN2
and -135*C. Normal shoes or boots do miserably: the soles immediately
stiffen and then break into pieces. Your feet get mighty cold mighty
quick even before this happens. I am working on shoe design and have
tenatively settled on thick wooden standoffs to keep my feet an inch or
two off bottom and furthermore plan to put an inch or so of styrofoam
between foot and soles. I had a very bad experience with shoes once when
transferring patients from one dewar to another in Northern California.
Not only did it ruin my (and Hugh Hixon's) shoes, it didn't do our feet
any good either. So, a piece of advice to others who might try this, pay
close attention to insulating and protecting your feet. You'll need them
to get out in a hurry if there is other trouble.
I'll keep you posted on my quest to be the first mammal (and the
first man) to be placed in a dewar at -135*C and come out alive!
Again thanks to all who offered suggestions. If Alcor acquiesces
I'll let you know how it goes.
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