NASA Engineers Work on New Spacesuits

NotCoward writes "In labs at Johnson Space Center, away from the buzz about NASA's new spaceship and its new missions to the moon and Mars, a group of engineers are plodding away at another piece of the puzzle: spacesuits. Astronaut apparel has evolved over the decades from Mercury's aluminum foil-looking outfits to the bulky, 275-pound whites now used on jaunts outside the space station. While it's too early in the process to know how the new space suits will look, the space agency is hoping to make new suits both high-tech and low-maintenance."

Comments

Fishbowl helmets yet?

[Anonymous Coward]

We won't feel that we're living in the future and its a wonderful time to be alive until they introduce fishbowl helmets like in golden age-style sci-fi cover art (e.g. Flynn's Lodestar ). This nonsense about a white helmet with just a gold visor is making millions of children apathetic to the space program.

Re:Fishbowl helmets yet?

[hey!]

My first reaction to the suit pictured in TFA was "don't astronauts ever need peripheral vision?" Especially as the helmet does not turn with their head.

I suppose current generation astronauts just need to see whatever they working on, which is right in front of them. But I'd think that it would be psychologically uncomfortable to have your awareness of what is going on to either side cut off for long periods at a time. What if some evil, tentacled creature crawled out of a crater and was heading right for you? You'd never see it.

Not to mention the risk of getting run over by a moon buggy while you are crossing the grounds of your base.

Re:Fishbowl helmets yet?

[CrazedWalrus]

outer layer that helps retain the bladder

Speaking of retaining the bladder, will new designs incorporate strategically-located zippers? Or are we still going the Depends (tm) route? There's just something non-sexy about being a pee-pee-pants in space.

Re:Fishbowl helmets yet?

[orgelspieler]

I'd not want a fish bowel helmet if there was a light source in back of me or to may side.

I would not want a "fish bowel helmet" even if there wasn't a light source in back of me.

ewwww....

Yes but . . .

[scottennis]

Will they come with a knife, rubber mallet, bb gun, tubing and pepper spray?
You never know when an astronaut might need those things.
(I'm assuming the diapers will still be included.)

Re:Yes but . . .

[jackalope]

You forgot to include the towel. Never go anywhere without a towel.

Re:"275-pound[s]"? That sounds awfully cheap

[Anonymous Coward]

Hmmm... Pounds Sterling? Do they still use those? If they weighed the suit in stones would it make you feel better?

high-tech and low-maintenance

[Anonymous Coward]

Is that the suit they are describing or the NASA geeks dream girl?

Who needs new shuttles?

[AndroidCat]

1. Have spacesuit
2. Wander around on Earth until ETs pick them up
3. Will travel!

Re:Liquid Oxygen

[Moofie]

Well, you need cooling fluid too, right? There's your solution!

Re:Mars hyperbole

[ObsessiveMathsFreak]

Who do you expect us to trust? Some Wikipedia article, or years of solid TV and movie dramatisations of space exploration?

I for one would fully expect, nay demand, that even the most microscopic of punctures in the suits skin must quickly lead to blood curdling screams followed by the astronaught either gratuitiously exploding within their suit, or the suit itself rupturing and spraying copious amounts of gore in all directions. Furthermore, the screams and sounds of exploding organs should carry across the vacuum.

We spend millions on our space programs. The public should demand nothing less.