3
$\begingroup$

I was thinking of an organism that lives its entire life in outer space. It would be shaped like a rocket and have skin to pressurize its insides so that its internal organs are pressurized even when it lives in the vacuum of space and the skin also protects its internal organs from space junk.

What would be the maximum size this organism could get to without collapsing under its own weight?

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
2
  • $\begingroup$ Related: worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/questions/1359/… $\endgroup$
    – Cort Ammon
    May 14, 2016 at 3:38
  • $\begingroup$ Jupiter size at least, he will contain core around which he will rest - more massive it is more problems with self-propelling it have, until they invent thermonuclear ability. $\endgroup$
    – MolbOrg
    May 21, 2016 at 15:34

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
6
$\begingroup$

What do you mean by "collapse"? The Earth is pulled into a sphere and is collapsed dust, but a perfectly good planet.

Just because it has self-gravity and holds together doesn't mean your animal is in distress. It could be made to be that way, or even rely on it.

So other than the limiting case of a black hole, the question has no simple answer. It depends on the materials and metabolism and other processes involved.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .