SPACE SUITS

BYVEDPRAKASH ARYA(12N31A2105)ANE-AMRCET

WHAT IS A SPACE SUIT?A spacesuit is a garment worn to keep a

human alive on the harsh environment of outer space, vacuum, and temperature extremes. Spacesuits are often worn inside space crafts as a safety precaution in case of loss of cabin pressure, and are necessary for Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA), work done outside a spacecraft. Spacesuits have been worn for such work in earth orbit, on surface of moon, and en-route back to earth from the moon.

NEED OF A SPACE SUIT❑ You will become unconscious within 15 seconds because there is no oxygen❑ Your blood and body fluids will boil and then freeze because there is little

or no air pressure❑ Your skin, heart, and other internal organs will expand because of the

boiling fluids❑ You will be exposed to extreme changes in temperature: 248°F (120°C) in

the sunlight and -148°F (-100°C) in the shade❑ You will be exposed to various types of radiation such as solar wind

(charged particles emitted from the sun) and cosmic rays❑ Inside the spacecraft the atmosphere can be controlled so that special

clothing is not needed❑ There is no atmospheric pressure and oxygen in space to sustain life so to

explore and work in space human beings must take their environment with them

A SPACE SUIT PROVIDES❑ Supply oxygen❑ Protection of the body from bombardment from micrometeoroids❑ Insulates the wearer from the temperature extremes of space❑ Removes heat and moisture generated by sweat❑ Protects the body from space radiation❑ Be airtight and resistant to external influences ❑ It allows as much unrestricted movement as possible❑ It has a large tensile strength because of the gas pressure inside the

garment❑ Allows for communication in airless space❑ The radio communication gear allows the astronauts to keep in touch with

each other and with the astronauts inside the space station❑ It also has a very sensitive alarm system in case a call for help is needed

SPACE SUIT COMPONENTS

SPACE SUIT COMPONENTS

The EMU consists of:❑ Gloves, helmet, torso assembly❑ Liquid Cooling and Ventilation garment (to

remove excess body heat)❑ Communications Carrier Assembly

(microphones and earphones)❑ Extravehicular Visor assembly (to protect from

sunlight)❑ In-suit drink bag❑ Urine collection bag❑ Primary Life Support Subsystem (provides

oxygen, removal of carbon dioxide, power, cooling water, radio equipment, and warning system)

SPACE SUIT IS MADE UP OF❑Nylon tricot❑Spandex❑Urethane-coated

Nylon❑Dacron❑Neoprene-coated

Nylon

❑Mylar❑Gortex❑Kevlar❑Nomex

SPACE SUIT IS MADE UP OFThe Apollo pressure spacesuit for EVA’s consisted of many layers:

❑ Three layers of nylon to hold the pressure❑ Five layers of aluminized Mylar interwoven with Dacron and

two layers of Kapton for heat protection❑ Two layers of Teflon coated cloth (nonflammable) for

protection from scrapes❑ The Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) is used for space

walking from the shuttle and the space station❑ The EMU has 13 layers of material including an inner

cooling garment, pressure garment, thermal micrometeoroid garment, and an outer cover

❑ The materials used are nylon tricot, Spandex, urethane-coated nylon, Dacron, neoprene-coated nylon, Mylar, Gortex, Kevlar, and Nomex

The Spacesuit worn by Neil Armstrong

on Apollo 11 mission (1969)

THE EVOLUTION OF THE SPACE SUIT (1969 TO 2020?)

EVOLUTION OF THE SPACESUIT❑ The Mercury space suit was un-

pressurized and served only as a backup for a possible spacecraft cabin pressure loss (an event that never happened)

❑ It had laced boots, a helmet that attached by a collar ring, and gloves

❑ It was cooled by an external fan and received oxygen via tubes connected to the space craft

❑The Apollo suit had to be redesigned for extra vehicular activities (EVA’s)

❑It had boots, gloves, a communications cap and a clear plastic helmet

❑During lift-off the suit’s oxygen and cooling water were supplied by the ship.

EVOLUTION OF THE SPACESUIT❑ During the early flights of the space shuttle astronauts

wore a brown flight suit to protect them if the cabin pressure failed

❑ As space shuttle flights became more routine astronauts stopped wearing pressurized space suits during lift off and began wearing light blue cover-alls, black boots, and a communications helmet

❑ After the Challenger disaster in 1986 NASA required all astronauts to wear pressurized space suits during lift-off and re-entry

❑ These orange pressurized suits had a communications cap, helmet, boots, gloves, parachute and inflatable life preserver

❑ These space suits were designed only for emergency use

Space suits on early shuttle missions

Crew of Challenger just prior to launch

EVOLUTION OF THE SPACESUIT

Latest space suit used on the Space Shuttle

EVOLUTION OF THE SPACESUIT

To help the astronauts move around freely while performing a spacewalk, a manned maneuvering unit (MMU) was attached to the EMU

The MMU was a nitrogen propelled backpack that allows the astronaut to fly with precisionThe MMU was used 9 times on 3 Space Shuttle missions in 1984

Astronaut Bruce McCandless made the first untethered

spacewalk in February 1984 (photo by NASA)

EVOLUTION OF THE SPACESUIT❑ Over 150 spacewalks (EVA’s) have

been needed for construction of the International Space Station

❑ Tethers, safety grips and the robot arm are used for spacewalks now, but what happens if a problem occurs and the astronaut begins to float away into the void of space?

Spacewalk using the robotic arm (NASA)

EVOLUTION OF THE SPACESUIT

❑ NASA has a device called Simplified Aid For EVA Rescue (SAFER)

❑ It is a self-contained maneuvering unit worn by astronauts that relies on small nitrogen-jet thrusters with limited amount of propellant to let them move around in space

❑ It is to be used in emergencies only and so far has never been needed

SAFER is worn like a backpack

FUTURE SPACESUITS

❑A trip to Mars will require more thought than a trip to the space station

❑Unlike Earth, Mars does not have a magnetosphere to protect astronauts from radiation and micro meteors

❑You would also be exposed to sand storms and a hyper-cold environment

❑The space suit would also need to be light enough to move around and explore in Martian gravity

❑Future space explorers on the Moon and Mars could be outfitted in lightweight, high-tech spacesuits that offer far more flexibility than the bulky suits that have been used since the 1960’s

FUTURE SPACESUITS❑Research is underway at MIT on a Bio-Suit system designed for

travel to Mars❑It looks like a spandex leotard made out of a stretchy, skin-like

polymer that encases the body in a flexible shrink-wrap that prevents the wearer from exploding in the vacuum of space

❑The Bio-Suit is not only much lighter than conventional spacesuits but it can be outfitted with chemical sensors, wearable computers, and thermal threads for controlling body temperature

❑NASA is developing “hard suits” that are more flexible, more durable, lighter weight, and easier to put on than current space suits

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