NASA Awards Contract For Spacesuit of the Future

Guillermo brings news that NASA has awarded a contract for the development of the next generation of space suits for future use by astronauts in the Constellation program. The contract calls for two different levels of protection; a flexible, lightweight model for operations inside vehicles and stations, and a tougher, bulkier model built off the first for use on the moon. We've discussed spacesuit design (and what happens without them) in the past. "Suits and support systems will be needed for as many as four astronauts on moon voyages and as many as six space station travelers. For short trips to the moon, the suit design will support a week's worth of moon walks. The system also must be designed to support a significant number of moon walks during potential six-month lunar outpost expeditions. In addition, the spacesuit and support systems will provide contingency spacewalk capability and protection against the launch and landing environment, such as spacecraft cabin leaks."

Comments

i always wondered

[ionix5891]

what happens in them suits you know when one gets an itch?

Re:i always wondered

[eln]

That's what the little black part at the crotch is for in the first image. It's an access panel for when your balls itch. Man, those NASA guys think of everything! Just make sure you take care of the itch BEFORE you exit the airlock!

Re:i always wondered

[krgallagher]

"what happens in them suits you know when one gets an itch?"

What happens in the suit stays in the suit.

Re:i always wondered

[owlnation]

That's what the little black part at the crotch is for in the first image.

It's the harpoon cover.

Re:Space suit of the future!

[UnknowingFool]

See this is what happens when you don't get Martha Stewart involved into the design process. At least they'd have more fashion sense. Maybe nice spring colors. Stupid rules that the government has against hiring ex-cons. :P

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Hey, NASA, my User-Agent string is telling you I'm using a browser version that hasn't been released yet. How about you quit trying to guess what browser I'm using and assume that if it's not Internet Explorer it's Just Going To Work?

(If you actually need Internet Explorer, now, then you've got an even bigger problem)

Re:Space suit of the future!

[m.ducharme]

But then there will inevitably be fat tourists walking around the Moon or Mars in their skin-tight space suits. maybe bulky is better.

Re:Space suit of the future!

[owlnation]

But then there will inevitably be fat tourists walking around the Moon or Mars in their skin-tight space suits. maybe bulky is better.

But big and bulky is dangerous. A whaler may get confused, or use you as target practice.

Re:Space suit of the future!

[ArsonSmith]

And why would there be a whaler on the moon? There aren't any whales that I'm aware of. What would they do? sing?

We need Flash Gordon designers

[smellsofbikes]

Where the suits are slim, flexible, with lots of gold trim, and sport snazzy built-in guns.

And the suits for women are, inexplicably, 80% transparent.

Re:Space suit of the future!

[Rhinobird]

Sing...and tell tall tales.