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Would suction cups work in space? (sh.itjust.works)

submitted 4 months ago by Apytele@sh.itjust.works to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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You know like the kind that go on a window or bathroom mirror or on the wall or in the shower. They need the atmosphere pushing down on them to work, right?

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[-] ricecake@sh.itjust.works 17 points 4 months ago

I like the gauge block notion. A (quick) search says that it's a combination of surface tension from the oils they're coated in, suction (gone for us), and the super flat surfaces slightly exchanging electrons and bonding in close proximity.

I'm a fan of the surface tension angle as the "rocket of suction cups", since it's got that "non-binding force" element, where welding or glue feels different, and Velcro feels like a tangle.
It's "pull-y" where suction is "push-y".

Now the question is would surface tension grab something in a vacuum the way it does outside of one. I know you'd have water sublimate off, so it's questionable to me.

[-] Passerby6497@lemmy.world 1 points 4 months ago

In space you have to worry about your materials cold welding, so that might affect how we go about replacing the suction cups.

this post was submitted on 30 Apr 2024

137 points (97.2% liked)

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