"Man, what are you doing with a gun in space?"

[Krel]

Back in 1999, during the anniversary of the Apollo moon landing, there was this one show that claimed that the Apollo Astronauts carried a handgun. If it true, I wondered if it was a pistol, revolver, or a Gyro Jet.

David.

[Spades of Columbia]

Originally Posted by Krel

Back in 1999, during the anniversary of the Apollo moon landing, there was this one show that claimed that the Apollo Astronauts carried a handgun. If it true, I wondered if it was a pistol, revolver, or a Gyro Jet.

David.

Maybe it was the Callahan Fullbore Autolock like Jayne carries

[funkychinaman]

Originally Posted by Krel

Back in 1999, during the anniversary of the Apollo moon landing, there was this one show that claimed that the Apollo Astronauts carried a handgun. If it true, I wondered if it was a pistol, revolver, or a Gyro Jet.

David.

I suppose the only reason would be if they were stuck on the moon and couldn't return they'd have a quick way to die instead of starving or suffocating. But I'd think a cyanide capsule would be much lighter. Or, they could just open the hatch.

[The Wierd It]

Originally Posted by funkychinaman

I suppose the only reason would be if they were stuck on the moon and couldn't return they'd have a quick way to die instead of starving or suffocating. But I'd think a cyanide capsule would be much lighter. Or, they could just open the hatch.

It's been stated that astronauts never carried cyanide pills; blowing the hatch was deemed to be faster and less painful.

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

Why would they carry a Gyro jet handgun? Those were innaccurate and kinda pointless.

[mpe2010]

Originally Posted by FIVETWOSEVEN

Why would they carry a Gyro jet handgun? Those were innaccurate and kinda pointless.

They didnt have any recoil so shooting one in zero gravity wouldnt send the shooter flying backwards.

[FIVETWOSEVEN]

Originally Posted by mpe2010

They didnt have any recoil so shooting one in zero gravity wouldnt send the shooter flying backwards.

Weren't they the ones that went on the moon where there is gravity?

[mpe2010]

Originally Posted by FIVETWOSEVEN

Weren't they the ones that went on the moon where there is gravity?

I dont think that there is enough gravity on the moon to shoot a gun and not be propelled backwards a little bit.

[AdAstra2009]

Originally Posted by mpe2010

They didnt have any recoil so shooting one in zero gravity wouldnt send the shooter flying backwards.

Well the point of firearms being supplied to Cosmonauts/Astronauts was not for use in space but for re entry in the untamed wilderness as the article states.

Also If I was in space I wouldn't want a Gyro Jet, at short ranges the Gyrojet is known to be ineffective because it needs distance to accumulate velocity due to the rocket powered rounds.

[Evil Tim]

Originally Posted by mpe2010

They didnt have any recoil so shooting one in zero gravity wouldnt send the shooter flying backwards.

Um, gyrojets have less recoil, not none.