Ah yes - the rescue 'bags' :lol:
Actually, they are more sensible than they sound, though the write-ups could have used better editing, perhaps. There are two inflatable Rescue widgets:
- Rescue Ball (TL 7) [CSC p156]
- and -
Rescue Bubble (TL 9) [Core p98 and CSC p157]
My read - the Ball is for handling decompression (perhaps resulting in going adrift). The Bubble is for abandoning ship.
Quoting from these pages:
- The 150 Cr. Ball is 'intended' for pressure breaches and has the 'reflectorised plastic' uh 'metallic coating' that gives a 'good radar return'. I'd say that was mostly useful if 'sucked' out into space - or if one managed to get outside intentionally. It has four 'person-hours' of air, and, apparently, does not rely on anything other than 'user power'.
The 600 Cr. Bubble serves as an 'emergency lifeboat' and has a 'distress beacon' (probably better than shiny plastic in the flotsam of most 'disasters'). Only 2 hours of 'life support' (no mention of >1 sophont). It is also 'powered' by piezoelectric layers (sure that works well in near zero G - perhaps instructions include punching the bag - carefully 
).
As to the 2m diameter - the thought must be that the bags can act to plug any holes - thereby helping preserve the bank's investment!
Actually, being 'inflated' they could be 'squeezed' down corridors and out hatches as gases are compressible (that should be fun if also in Zero-G!)... of course, one may have to get any hatches/airlocks opened. The Ball makes some provision for this with a 'glove', which would also allow some maneuvering help in low G and pulling/pushing oneself along.
While this might survive in space - in many situations its probably best to stay in the vessel (thermal, radiation and kinetic protection not to mention being 'located') which appears to be what it is intended for.
The Bubble, in a 'lifeboat' role, should be near the exterior and designed to be 'jettisoned', er, released into space (so the 2m diameter would be accounted for).
