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The Astronaut's New Clothes

Posted by timothy on from the not-flying-around-naked dept.

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."

6 of 143 comments (clear)

  1. skin tight suits by Papa+Legba · · Score: 3, Interesting

    space is not going to be really conqurable until we can get skin tight style suits going. Even with the fact that in space weight becomes less of a problems (it is not gone, it returns as inertia force). Range of mobility in an enviroment that can kill you will be key. I would hope that they are spending more research in this area. Polarizing suits and cermic wire heaters would seem to be the way to go. The real trick is keeping what is on the inside from leaking to the ourside. Non-porus plastics are available, I would think you could layer those with light sensitice polarizing compunds, beef up the style of artic survival suits heaters and give it a go. If we can free ourselves from the bulkyness of the suits we have now anything in space will be possible.

    --
    Papa Legba come and open the gate
  2. Long live science! by Ghoser777 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    From the article:
    The Hamilton Sundstrand team is considering a technology that would project information onto the helmet's visor or onto the astronaut's retina. They are also looking into small wrist-worn devices.

    This is why I love seemingly pointless scientific endeavors. Why should we go to Mars? I guess it's cool, maybe we'll find some cool microrganisms to study, etc, but cool new gadgets are what I'm into.

    I want this display info on my glasses system. Forget PDAs, all your info could be on your glasses. Even better, maybe on your contacts. No more forgetting my PDA in my backpack. This is freakin cool!

    F-bacher

    --
    James Tiberius Kirk: "Spock, the women on your planet are logical. No other planet in the galaxy can make that claim."
  3. Skin-tight suits by Merk · · Score: 2, Interesting

    In nearly all sci-fi, people in space wear skin-tight suits. Since space is a vacuum, I can understand why a suit would tend to billow out, but does anybody know if it is possible to make a non-bulky skinsuit? Maybe something like the G suits pilots wear? Maybe something related to scuba diving (though I know the pressure difference there is the opposite)? I dunno, but if I'm not going to get my hovercar anytime soon, I at least want my spacesuit.

  4. Problems abound.. by Bowie+J.+Poag · · Score: 3, Interesting



    I dont think any suit short of multiple layers of Kevlar (heh, like a hundred) is going to protect an astronaut from being killed by a fleck of paint going 20,000 MPH..Thats the main problem I think should be addressed. I'd be more concerned about physical safety than I would be about mobility.

    Cheers,

    --
    Bowie J. Poag

    1. Re:Problems abound.. by sunking2 · · Score: 2, Interesting

      Actually, a study was done about this and it was determined that while working outside of the ISS, the HUT can withstand a hit from an object about the size of a pencil eraser without being penetrated. Unfortunately, I can't remember the actual speed that this assumed the object was moving at, but I think around 20K mph is ball park. The speed in which this study was asked for and done makes me suspect that there may have been a near miss of some sort during a mission. Officially we'll probably never find that out.

  5. Re:Necessary? by Random+Walk · · Score: 3, Interesting
    Interesting question indeed. Atmospheric pressure on the surface of Mars is about 6 millibar, which on Earth corresponds to a height of 35 km above sea level (4 times higher than Mt. Everest).

    Obviously at least the lungs must be pressurized, but what about the rest of the body ? There is some information on the consequences of such low pressure for the human body at this page (also some real cases discussed). Apparently some water vapor will evolve in the soft tissues and cause swelling of the body. This can be prevented by "a properly fitted elastic garment" at pressures as low as 20 millibar. It is not clear whether this would work at the 6 milibar on Mars.