On: What happens when an astronaut in orbit says he's not coming back?

[gnfargbl]

Possibly long enough for the person opening it to think twice about the consequences of the action they were about to take?

Same concept as putting high barriers on bridges, or selling paracetamol (acetaminophen) in smaller packs. These changes do nothing to stop someone who is committed to the act, but they provide a small energy barrier which can be enough to defeat the perturbations of a temporarily irrational mind.

[MBCook → gnfargbl]

Given the size of the space shuttle it may also be so there is enough time for someone else to notice what’s going on and intervene.

[spacebacon → gnfargbl]

Wise observation