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: "Space is big.  Really big.  You just won't believe how vastly, hugely, mind-boggingly big it is.  You may think it's a long way down the street to the chemist's, but that's just ''peanuts'' to space..."
{{wikipediainfo}}
: --[[Wikipedia:The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy|The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy]], Introduction
{{dab page|Space (disambiguation)}}
'''Space''' was a word used to refer to two different concepts relating to the [[universe]]. One referred to [[dimension]]s: space being described by [[Susan]] as the fifth [[dimension]], ([[TV]]: {{cs|An Unearthly Child (TV story)|namedep=An Unearthly Child (1)}}) though the [[First Doctor]] considered space and [[time]] to be the same dimension. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|The Cold Equations (audio story)}}) Space was also defined as the [[vacuum]] in the universe, outside of a [[planet|planetary body]]'s [[atmosphere]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Oxygen (TV story)}}) This was often known as "outer space". ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Runaway Bride (TV story)}})


'''Space''' is a term referring to two different concepts within physics, the first being the whole of creation, any open area, anywhere.  The second is all area in the Universe that exists outside the atmosphere of a planet, usually prefaced as 'outer space'.  Space is generally devoid of breathable air; space is full of various gasses and energies, but usually in such low concentration that most living beings cannot survive without assistance in space.
According to the [[Twelfth Doctor]], space was bent, so [[Earth]] was in any particular direction one chose to look in. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Smile (TV story)}})
: ''There are certainly exceptions to this rule, ranging from the [[Time Lord]]'s limited ability to survive in a vacuum to the [[Hunter]]s' ability to live in outer space indefinitely.''


Space travel could be considered the first real step of a race toward sophistication and awareness of other, 'greater' things in the Universe.  As ancient as the [[Time Lords]] were, they developed space travel even before the Universe was half its present size. ([[DW]]: ''[[Genesis of the Daleks]]'') This also means that space travel usually pre-dates [[time travel]]. 
The word space was often attached to other words to denote otherworldliness. Though the Twelfth Doctor insisted that people didn't add the word to things like [[restaurant]], [[champagne]] or [[hat]] to make terms like [[space restaurant]], [[Clara Oswald]] pointed out [[space suit]] and [[space pirate]] as examples to the contrary. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Sleep No More (TV story)}})


Physics also tells us that space is interwoven with time, and the two should be considered as either one and the same or directly impacting each-other, as most physicists refer to the structure of existence as 'spacetime'. In traditional, Euclidian thinking, space has only three dimensions (height, width, and depth).  Using the concept of spacetime, existance then has a 'fourth dimension', creating what is called the 'spacetime continuum', which is often another way of stating the 'universe at large'.
The Twelfth Doctor maintained that [[planet]]s themselves were not included in outer space, that he was not "from space" as he came from a particular planetary body, [[Gallifrey]]. Most people, he argued, came from a planet, rather than from the vacuum of space itself. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Pilot (TV story)}})
: ''This is, of course, the science-fiction way of looking at things.  Generally speaking it's a lot more complicated than that, but whenever one mentions the 'space-time continuum', they are generally referring to the Universe in general.''


Space, while vast and mysterious, also acts as a battleground for many races, both lesser and greater. The [[Time War]]s have been fought both across time and across space, with vast armadas from both sides traversing space using various means.
== The physics of space ==
Space was not as cold as -271.3[[Celsius|°C]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Extremis (TV story)}}) There was no [[pressure]] in space, nor, of course, [[oxygen]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Oxygen (TV story)}}; [[AUDIO]]: {{cs|The Cold Equations (audio story)}}) There was also little, if any, [[gravity]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Underworld (TV story)}}, {{cs|The Beast Below (TV story)}}, et al.)


General, broadly-accepted divisions of space help to keep the whole mess under some sort of organization, the widest category being galactic superclusters, the smallest being planetary or solar systems.  The Time Lords referred to the galaxy that contained [[Earth]] as [[Mutter's Spiral]], though the locals refer to it as the [[Milky Way]].  Space-farers tend to refer to whole solar systems by the name of their single inhabited [[planet]], it's [[star]] or their most populous [[planet]]. 
=== Space/vacuum exposure ===
{{main|Vacuum}}
Most [[lifeform]]s could not survive in the [[vacuum]] of space for very long, at least not without a [[spacesuit]], and a good supply of oxygen, among other necessities. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Moonbase (TV story)}}, {{cs|Oxygen (TV story)}}; [[AUDIO]]: {{cs|The Cold Equations (audio story)}})


While only the greater races of the Universe truly understand all of the wonders, perils, and methods of space, it continues to be a staging-ground for the rest of lifekind.
According to the [[Twelfth Doctor]], since there was no pressure in a vacuum, one's [[lung]]s would explode if they tried holding their [[breathing|breath]]. [[Blood vessel]]s would also rupture, and exposed areas of the body would [[swelling|swell]] up. The [[boiling point]] of [[water]] was much lower in a vacuum, so one's [[sweat]], [[saliva]] and the fluid around their [[eye]]s would also [[boiling|boil]].


[[Category:Astronomical Objects]]
Within 15 [[second]]s, a [[humanoid]] exposed to the vacuum of space would [[unconsciousness|lose consciousness]], as [[oxygen]] [[bubble]]s would form in their [[blood]]. Within 90 seconds, they would be [[dead]]. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Oxygen (TV story)}}) The [[Fourth Doctor]] claimed that so long as one did not attempt to hold their breath, it was possible to survive in the vacuum of space, with no ill effects, for at least 30 seconds. ([[AUDIO]]: {{cs|The Perfect Prisoners (audio story)}})
[[Category:Theories and Concepts]]
 
While [[Time Lord]]s could remain alive in the vacuum of space for longer than [[human]]s, ([[TV]]: {{cs|Four to Doomsday (TV story)}}, {{cs|The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe (TV story)}}, [[GAME]]: {{cs|TARDIS (video game)}}) extended exposure could lead to severe consequences. Prolonged exposure to save his friend, [[Bill Potts|Bill]], [[blind]]ed the Twelfth Doctor, though he did survive. ([[TV]]: {{cs|Oxygen (TV story)}})
 
[[Krynoid]] pods survived exposure to the vacuum of space by hibernating during voyages through space. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Seeds of Doom (TV story)}})
 
[[Wirrn]] lived in and travelled through space. They could live without fresh [[oxygen]] for several years, but their breeding colonies were terrestrial. ([[TV]]: {{cs|The Ark in Space (TV story)}})
 
The [[Rutan Host]] could travel through space without any effects. ([[PROSE]]: {{cs|Shakedown (novelisation)}})
 
== References ==
[[file:There's an automatic space mayday from this area of Sector 25.png|thumb|left|[[Lieutenant]] [[Josef Ninety|Ninety]] point out an "[[automatic]] space [[mayday]] from [[Area 4]] of [[Sector 25]]. ([[COMIC]]: {{cs|The Batmen (comic story)|part=1}})]]
In [[2065]], an "[[automatic]] space [[mayday]]" was sent out by a [[Space freighter (The Batmen)|space freighter]] while it was in [[Area 4]] of [[Sector 25]]. ([[COMIC]]: {{cs|The Batmen (comic story)|part=1}})
 
[[Category:Space| *]]
[[Category:Concepts]]
[[Category:Outer space]]
[[Category:Astronomical objects]]
[[Category:Physics from the real world]]

Latest revision as of 17:20, 21 October 2024

Space
You may wish to consult Space (disambiguation) for other, similarly-named pages.

Space was a word used to refer to two different concepts relating to the universe. One referred to dimensions: space being described by Susan as the fifth dimension, (TV: "An Unearthly Child" [+]Part of An Unearthly Child, Loading...{"namedep":"An Unearthly Child (1)","1":"An Unearthly Child (TV story)"}) though the First Doctor considered space and time to be the same dimension. (AUDIO: The Cold Equations [+]Loading...["The Cold Equations (audio story)"]) Space was also defined as the vacuum in the universe, outside of a planetary body's atmosphere. (TV: Oxygen [+]Loading...["Oxygen (TV story)"]) This was often known as "outer space". (TV: The Runaway Bride [+]Loading...["The Runaway Bride (TV story)"])

According to the Twelfth Doctor, space was bent, so Earth was in any particular direction one chose to look in. (TV: Smile [+]Loading...["Smile (TV story)"])

The word space was often attached to other words to denote otherworldliness. Though the Twelfth Doctor insisted that people didn't add the word to things like restaurant, champagne or hat to make terms like space restaurant, Clara Oswald pointed out space suit and space pirate as examples to the contrary. (TV: Sleep No More [+]Loading...["Sleep No More (TV story)"])

The Twelfth Doctor maintained that planets themselves were not included in outer space, that he was not "from space" as he came from a particular planetary body, Gallifrey. Most people, he argued, came from a planet, rather than from the vacuum of space itself. (TV: The Pilot [+]Loading...["The Pilot (TV story)"])

The physics of space[[edit] | [edit source]]

Space was not as cold as -271.3°C. (TV: Extremis [+]Loading...["Extremis (TV story)"]) There was no pressure in space, nor, of course, oxygen. (TV: Oxygen [+]Loading...["Oxygen (TV story)"]; AUDIO: The Cold Equations [+]Loading...["The Cold Equations (audio story)"]) There was also little, if any, gravity. (TV: Underworld [+]Loading...["Underworld (TV story)"], The Beast Below [+]Loading...["The Beast Below (TV story)"], et al.)

Space/vacuum exposure[[edit] | [edit source]]

Main article: Vacuum

Most lifeforms could not survive in the vacuum of space for very long, at least not without a spacesuit, and a good supply of oxygen, among other necessities. (TV: The Moonbase [+]Loading...["The Moonbase (TV story)"], Oxygen [+]Loading...["Oxygen (TV story)"]; AUDIO: The Cold Equations [+]Loading...["The Cold Equations (audio story)"])

According to the Twelfth Doctor, since there was no pressure in a vacuum, one's lungs would explode if they tried holding their breath. Blood vessels would also rupture, and exposed areas of the body would swell up. The boiling point of water was much lower in a vacuum, so one's sweat, saliva and the fluid around their eyes would also boil.

Within 15 seconds, a humanoid exposed to the vacuum of space would lose consciousness, as oxygen bubbles would form in their blood. Within 90 seconds, they would be dead. (TV: Oxygen [+]Loading...["Oxygen (TV story)"]) The Fourth Doctor claimed that so long as one did not attempt to hold their breath, it was possible to survive in the vacuum of space, with no ill effects, for at least 30 seconds. (AUDIO: The Perfect Prisoners [+]Loading...["The Perfect Prisoners (audio story)"])

While Time Lords could remain alive in the vacuum of space for longer than humans, (TV: Four to Doomsday [+]Loading...["Four to Doomsday (TV story)"], The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe [+]Loading...["The Doctor, the Widow and the Wardrobe (TV story)"], GAME: TARDIS [+]Loading...["TARDIS (video game)"]) extended exposure could lead to severe consequences. Prolonged exposure to save his friend, Bill, blinded the Twelfth Doctor, though he did survive. (TV: Oxygen [+]Loading...["Oxygen (TV story)"])

Krynoid pods survived exposure to the vacuum of space by hibernating during voyages through space. (TV: The Seeds of Doom [+]Loading...["The Seeds of Doom (TV story)"])

Wirrn lived in and travelled through space. They could live without fresh oxygen for several years, but their breeding colonies were terrestrial. (TV: The Ark in Space [+]Loading...["The Ark in Space (TV story)"])

The Rutan Host could travel through space without any effects. (PROSE: Shakedown [+]Loading...["Shakedown (novelisation)"])

References[[edit] | [edit source]]

Lieutenant Ninety point out an "automatic space mayday from Area 4 of Sector 25. (COMIC: The Batmen (part 1) [+]Loading...{"part":"1","1":"The Batmen (comic story)"})

In 2065, an "automatic space mayday" was sent out by a space freighter while it was in Area 4 of Sector 25. (COMIC: The Batmen (part 1) [+]Loading...{"part":"1","1":"The Batmen (comic story)"})

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