The Astronaut's New Clothes

Metox writes: "An article posted on www.sciam.com gives a glimpse into the future of space clothing for use in hostile environments, Earth orbit, Mars, etc. Of all the facts in the article, the one I found most interesting is that the current EVA (Extra Vehicular Activity) suit is an astonishing 24 years old. However, the article gives a good reason for this. As the EVA suit is used in a microgravity environment, mobility isn't as important, and dexterity can be enhanced by simple changes to the arms and hands. The article highlights the current tests of two new EVA/Mars contenders, the I-Suit and the H-Suit."

Comments

old == reliable

[Trailer Trash]

the one I found most interesting is that the current EVA (Extra Vehicular Activity) suit is an astonishing 24 years old

On the other hand, nobody has died or been injured in the last 24 years because of their suit. There's something to be said for that kind of reliability.