What To Wear On Mars

Roland Piquepaille writes "If men ever land on Mars, what will they wear to protect them from radiation, micrometeors and the very cold climate? Several students from the University of Alberta tackled the problem and designed space suits for Mars. Their prototype suit is composed of twelve layers of materials, including one made from Demron, a new nanotechnology material developed by a Florida-based company, Radiation Shield Technologies. The students and their professor, Dr. Barry Patchett, think their suit will largely be ready before real missions to Mars start in about twenty years. They also hope that NASA will pick their design. More details and references are available in this overview, including some illustrations."

Comments

Jennifer Marcy

[imag0]

Geek girl developing space suits. How hot is that?

Man, i'd tap that radiation shielding if I had a chance ;)

What not to wear...

[T-Kir]

Just don't invite Trinny and Susannah, they'd probably throw all the current stuff out the nearest airlock.

Re:What not to wear...

[AndroidCat]

I think a suit from Queer Eye for the Martian Guy might also be a mistake.

Where the fashion going?

[jackb_guppy]

I was hoping to see wide lapels, or padded shoulders that look like airplane wings.

Instead it talks about material make up.

How is that what to wear?

men

[dankelley]

If men ever land on Mars, what will they wear

Whatever their mummies tell them to wrap themselves in ;-)

White space suit

[Leadmagnet]

Well according to my wife if it's after labor day then it can't be white.

Re:White space suit

[Leadmagnet]

Perfectly acceptable if they are also playing golf

Well duh...

[grub]

All Mars explorers will need are Grizzly Bear Proof Suits.
They're well armoured for micrometeorites and, hey, you never know about those Martian grizzly bears.

Suit for sale

[AndroidCat]

That bear-proof suit was up for auction but didn't sell so maybe it's still available.

It also features a built-in video screen, a cooling system, pressure-bearing titanium struts, protective airbags, shock absorbers, a robotic third arm, built-in regular arms and swivel shoulders.

And best of all, they're pretty darn bear-resistant! Always important on Mars!

"Good heavens, something's wriggling out of the shadow like a gray snake. Now it's another one, and another. They look like tentacles to me. There, I can see the thing's body. It's large, large as a bear and it glistens like wet leather. But that face, it . . . Ladies and gentlemen, it's indescribable."

Obligatory Jack Handey Quote....

[mscdex]

When the chairman introduced the guest speaker as a former illegal alien, I got up from my chair and yelled, "What's the matter, no jobs on Mars?" When no one laughed, I was real embarrassed. I don't think people should make you feel that way.

for the love of GOD!

[buttahead]

Their prototype suit is composed of twelve layers of materials ... [they] think their suit will largely be ready before real missions to Mars start in about twenty years. They also hope that NASA will pick their design.

Jesus NO!. Just think of the deaths that will happen without the "13th-layer". If I were nasa, I would demand more layers. 20 years should be enough time to come up with one more.

Don't forget...

[Anonymous Coward]

Don't forget the HUGE glass face mask. This has numerous advantages, including:

• Allows the movie cameras to get nice close-up shots.
• Provides an increased chance of breakage/higher television ratings.
• Allows various alien species to get a better look at dinner.

My Question...

[Mike Buddha]

My Question is this: If I'm on Mars, will I have to wear a tinfoil hat to keep the people on Earth from reading my mind?