Terrifying simulation shows most gruesome ways astronauts can die in space

While being able to send humans into space is an incredible feat, it's also an incredibly dangerous one.

It used to be that only specially-trained astronauts from the likes of NASA could explore the universe.

But, with a boom in commercial space tourism thanks to the likes of Elon Musk's SpaceX, Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin, and Virgin Galactic - we're the closest we've ever been to 'ordinary' people being able to visit the cosmos.

'Ordinary,' meaning, of course, you've got a spare few million dollars to fork out on the experience...

This week, for example, Katy Perry and an all-female crew took an 11-minute Blue Origin flight to spend just four minutes in space.

Since the start of human spaceflight, 682 people have reached the altitude of space, according to the FAI definition, while 721 have reached space according to the USAF definition.

Space travel is an incredible achievement (Eric Meola/Getty Images)

A total of 20 people have, sadly, died either during space missions or in preparation for them.

YouTube channel What If? created a terrifying simulation which takes a look at the scariest ways astronauts could die out in space...

Decompression

As shown in What If's? YouTube video, if even a tiny piece of meteorite was to hit your visor and crack it, then it could cause decompression.

This is when 'a rapid change in pressure causes all the liquid in your body to boil and evaporate,' the channel explains.

The vacuum of space could cause your lungs to rupture, but holding your breath won't be of any use.

Decompression can be an incredibly painful death, damaging our vital organs and causing us to pass out within 15 seconds or less.

But the worst part is, you'd feel it coming on. Ouch...

Atmospheric Reentry

Atmospheric re-entry can be fatal (What If?/YouTube)

It's a well-known fact that spacecrafts' components can burn up as they re-enter Earth's atmosphere.

And, if your craft's heat shield failed then, well, that could just be you...

"Intense friction generates enormous heat making your spaceship burn up before reaching the surface," Peter, What If's host, explains.

A failed heat shield could see your craft's exterior heat up as high as 3,600 F (2,000 C), causing the cabin you're sat in to 'become unbearably hot in seconds,' Peter adds.

Next, 'intense turbulence' would begin to tear the ship apart.

That's scary enough, but what's even more terrifying is what comes next: decompression...that's right!

Oxygen Leak

Leaks of any kind are often bad news, but a leak in space could spell game over...

What If? explored exactly what would happen if your spacesuit was damaged, resulting in an oxygen leak.

"In the vacuum of space, there's no air pressure, and your spacesuit just took a hit, which means that the pressure inside it will change and cause the air to expand," Peter explains.

So, any gulps of air you took in will 'explode your lungs,' tearing them from the inside - yikes.

Air bubbles will then enter your bloodstream, leading to 'an embolism that will block blood flow to your vital organs like your heart and your brain,' Peter explains, adding: "Cue heart attack, stroke and death." Delightful!

Gravity Well Trap

If the thought of being crushed, or perhaps buried alive, gives you the shivers, then you're not going to like this one.

One major risk of traversing the cosmos is getting caught up in a mammoth planet's 'enormous gravitational pull' and ending up in a 'gravity well trap.'

"Gravity well is space around a massive object... that pulls all nearby objects toward it," Peter explains, adding: "And it's dangerous.

"Your ship's thrusters would fail to counteract this gravity."

You'd be rapidly pulled toward the planet, all the while 'experiencing some serious G-forces.'

"You and your ship wouldn't stand a chance - the G-forces you'd be feeling would cause you to black out," Peter adds.

You'd fall deeper into this planet's atmosphere until your ship broke apart.

It's here you'd meet your grizzly end, if you hadn't already.

Peter warns: "When your ship does break apart, you'll be flung out into the storm of toxic gases and superheated winds."

Other brutal ways to die in space

'Invisible' black holes pose a major threat (What If?/YouTube)

Other brutal ways to die include falling into a black hole, which would essentially 'spaghetti-fy' a body, stretching it atom by atom.

The good news, though? You'd be well gone before your brain could even begin to process the pain.

Another is orbital debris collision, when your spacecraft crashes into one of the thousands of pieces of space junk floating around out there.

Solar flare exposures are another major risk; they can strip planets of their atmosphere, so just think of what it could do to you...

Thanks a lot, science!