The Saiyans' Ability to Breathe in Space

[Krazy Monkey]

During the Frieza Saga, during Goku's showdown with Frieza, it was stated that Goku (as well as other Saiyans) are unable to breathe in space. Due to Frieza having knowledge of this fact, he took advantage of it by shooting a huge energy blast all the way down to Planet Namek's core, so even if Goku somehow managed to defeat Frieza and/or survive the planet's explosion, he would die in space due to a lack of oxygen. Now, to get to the point, I've noticed an inconsistency that contradicts this entirely. Towards the end of Bardock: The Father of Goku, Bardock was able to breathe in space when he was blasting through all of those soldiers in order to challenge Frieza. So, my question is, if Bardock was able to breathe in space, why is it that Goku is unable to?

[Maphisto86]

This has been discussed a thousand times but really Toei did not put much thought into it. As I hypothesized in this thread, I believed the use of ki had something to do with making a temporary, artifical "atmosphere". Either that or the breathable atmosphere on Planet Vegeta extends farther out. Still Saiyans cannot breath in space apparentley, since they are like humans in many respects. It's Toriyama Physics 101 . . . try not to think too hard.

[goodguy777]

During the Frieza Saga, during Goku's showdown with Frieza, it was stated that Goku (as well as other Saiyans) are unable to breathe in space. Due to Frieza having knowledge of this fact, he took advantage of it by shooting a huge energy blast all the way down to Planet Namek's core, so even if Goku somehow managed to defeat Freeza and/or survive the planet's explosion, he would die in space due to a lack of oxygen. Now, to get to the point, I've noticed an inconsitency that contradict this entirely. Towards the end of Bardock: The Father of Goku, Bardock was able to breathe in space when he was blasting through all of those soldiers in order to challenge Frieza. So, my question is, if Bardock was able to breathe in space, why is it that Goku is unable to?

When the storyline of Dragon Ball was on it's roots where it's a classic and gag manga. The answer is Goku is able to breath in space, it happened when the Dragon Ball was on its roots, origin and classic mode. It is the chapter where Goku sent Boss Rabbit and his gang in the moon.

[Sprite Satan]

His scouter is also a magic, scientifically improbable breath device. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.

[yunzabit]

I prefer to think that Freeza's ship created a atmosphere "bridge" between Planet Vegeta and the ship at King Vegeta's request.

Filler I know, but King Vegeta assembled his men and prepared to attack Freeza. He had to get to Freeza somehow. There could have been an artificial atmosphere to bridge the two destinations. That would also allow Bardock and Freeza's men to survive outside of Freeza's ship.

Although the logistics in creating a sustainable atmospheric bridge like that would just as unlikely.

[goku the krump dancer]

I think that they can breath in space, but one of my friends said that Bardock suffficating in space would be a delayed effect do to saiyans having an overall stronger anatomy than humans.

[The Tori-bot]

All instances of Saiya-jin in space breathing without apparatus (Bardock, Vegeta, etc.) are anime-only.

Let's not mention Bardock's two panels, kthx.

[Khalid Shahin]

Forget about them breathing in space. Explain how they are even speaking in space. You could make the argument that they held their breath for a long time, but that it is immediately negated as soon as Bardock speaks. Bardock was the only one talking if I remember correctly, other than Freeza, maybe everyone else was holding their breath. Might explain why Freeza's soldiers didn't speakup against Bardock though.

[Drayenko]

One question, this "TV Special" came before Freezer's statement that Saiyans can't breath in space or before? Maybe TOEI didn't know about it, if it came before of course. If it came after then in my opinion that is just a mess up...

[goodguy777]

Forget about them breathing in space. Explain how they are even speaking in space. You could make the argument that they held their breath for a long time, but that it is immediately negated as soon as Bardock speaks. Bardock was the only one talking if I remember correctly, other than Freeza, maybe everyone else was holding their breath. Might explain why Freeza's soldiers didn't speakup against Bardock though.

It's a gag panel in the adaptation of the gag manga called Dragon Ball.

[Khalid Shahin]

Forget about them breathing in space. Explain how they are even speaking in space. You could make the argument that they held their breath for a long time, but that it is immediately negated as soon as Bardock speaks. Bardock was the only one talking if I remember correctly, other than Freeza, maybe everyone else was holding their breath. Might explain why Freeza's soldiers didn't speakup against Bardock though.

It's a gag panel in the adaptation of the gag manga called Dragon Ball.

They were talking about Bardock's appearance in the anime bro.

[Savage68]

Bardock was shown surviving in outer space. After that, Frieza and King Kai noted that Saiyans can't survive in outer space.

Retcon much? S'not that hard to discern.

[Terra-jin]

This has been discussed a thousand times but really Toei did not put much thought into it. As I hypothesized in this thread, I believed the use of ki had something to do with making a temporary, artifical "atmosphere". Either that or the breathable atmosphere on Planet Vegeta extends farther out. Still Saiyans cannot breath in space apparentley, since they are like humans in many respects. It's Toriyama Physics 101 . . . try not to think too hard.

Hmmmm, this idea is the most convincing so far... after all, we see Broly do something similar as a baby (he and Paragus floating away in a ball of ki, or air, or something...)

[goodguy777]

The true and real explanation for this is "it's a gag anime" because it's impossible to speak or talk in the vacuum of space, it's a gag scene.

[Bussani]

This has been discussed a thousand times but really Toei did not put much thought into it. As I hypothesized in this thread, I believed the use of ki had something to do with making a temporary, artifical "atmosphere". Either that or the breathable atmosphere on Planet Vegeta extends farther out. Still Saiyans cannot breath in space apparentley, since they are like humans in many respects. It's Toriyama Physics 101 . . . try not to think too hard.

Hmmmm, this idea is the most convincing so far... after all, we see Broly do something similar as a baby (he and Paragus floating away in a ball of ki, or air, or something...)

It's the explanation I always thought was most logical, too. However, as Rocketman pointed out in another thread, even humans can survive in space for a while. The human body doesn't just burst or anything, and heat radiates away from you slower in a vacuum. Plus you could use your ki to keep your temperature up, I guess.

In the end it's the lack of air that kills you. If we imagine that Saiyans have incredible lung capacity, then it might be possible for them to operate in space for a limited time; much like Superman in his animated series. Then the real question becomes how they speak, but yeah. Maybe, like the sound effects in space movies (and in Dragon Ball itself, for that matter), there isn't really any sound. Another character might just see the lips move, but not hear anything. I can't remember if two characters actually talk/respond to each other while in space in the Bardock Special.

[Savage68]

Nothing should have been audible at all.

[Bussani]

Nothing should have been audible at all.

Yeah, that's what I was saying. Take something like Star Trek, where a character would tell you that there's no sound in a vacuum, and if exposed to space this would be shown to be true within the show, yet the space battles still have the 'pew pew' sound effects constantly. It's one of those things that isn't meant to be taken literally. It exists for the benefit of the viewer and to give 'weight' to the scene. Any sound in space in Dragon Ball, be it sound effects or talking, could be the same deal.

Unless someone actually has a back-and-forth conversation in space in the special. Then I shrug and say I gave it my best shot.

[Rocketman]

There's also that there's a pretty big difference between being in vacuum for a minute or two and being cast adrift in the interstellar void where a planet used to be.

Even if Goku could breathe in space, he'd starve to death before reaching another livable planet.

[Savage68]

Well, when you consider the impossible Earth-Moon relativity Toriyama applied in the series, the Bardock thing isn't all that illogical.

Though it does contradict his own characters' statements later, which possibly makes it even more illogical.

[saiyanprincess]

I know it is laughable and sounds a stupid excuse, but in my fanfictions I wrote that it was because Vegeta and Nappa had taken special oxygen tablets before boarding their spacepods and so could breathe without the use of air masks when they are out of the planets atmosphere.
Also if you think about it, Not all planets would be the same (Some may not have oxygen at all), and so you don't see Freeza's men running around in clunky space suits like Goku wore to fix the space ship on the way to Namek.

I know in a couple of episodes Freeza's crew wear those helmets (Like on Namek the crocodile guy who tried to kidnap Bulma) But we never see Vegeta wearing anything remotely like this.

I'll just stick with my random (and potentially rubbish) Oxygen pill idea!