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Elon Musk Posts First Photo of SpaceX's New Spacesuit (arstechnica.com)
Early Wednesday morning, SpaceX founder Elon Musk posted a photo of the spacesuit that will be used by astronauts flying aboard the company's Dragon spacecraft, perhaps as early as next year. Ars Technica reports: In his Instagram post, Musk added that this suit was not a mock-up but rather a fully functional unit. "Already tested to double vacuum pressure," he wrote. "Was incredibly hard to balance aesthetics and function. Easy to do either separately." (Double vacuum pressure simply means the suit was probably inflated to twice the pressure of sea level and then put into a vacuum chamber.) Musk gave no other technical information about the suit. Most strikingly, it is white, in contrast to the very blue spacesuits unveiled by Boeing in January. These are not, strictly speaking, "space suits." Rather, they are more properly flight suits designed to be worn during the ride to space and again on the ride back down to Earth. They have a limited time in which they can operate in a full vacuum and are not intended for spacewalks.
These are not, strictly speaking, "space suits." Rather, they are more properly flight suits designed to be worn during the ride to space and again on the ride back down to Earth. They have a limited time in which they can operate in a full vacuum and are not intended for spacewalks.
So call the flight suit a flight suit. Different tools are for different jobs, and giving them a distinct name helps to avoid confusion.
"Space suit" = "Flight Suit" != Space suit. Why? Why call it something that is not? Enough with the bullshit. There is way too much as it is.
That's just the currently selected layout for the built-in keyboard.
Not sure how it looks inflated but it certainly looks like a motorcycle outfit.
I do like the fact it has an actual helmet, unlike the blue suit which looks like a completely "rollupable" uprated biohazard suit. Keep in mind these are just "pressure suits", not "space suits"
It doesn't, but the fact that Elon talks about the aesthetics shows that he is keen on the impression given by the suit. It's probably required to look sleek, futuristic and not very bulky. Everybody knows that a space suit should have a flag, but I wonder if it's not put in the wrong way, compared to NASA astronauts and aviators. Does anybody know?
Furthermore I think it actually looks like a mock-up. It doesn't look very sturdy or robust at all, rather plastic or CG-like. It's pretty thin - where are all the hoses, joints and other life support systems? I think it looks like a white MC overall.
Do they plan to send the Stig up? Surely he's want a British flag??
>Everybody knows that a space suit should have a flag I disagree strongly. we nearly rid ourselves of religion. we need to put this divisive nazi-onalistic bullshit behind us as well.
Those crinkles are not going to be fun when filled with atmospheric pressure. What makes space suits bulky is that they don't change volume when moving, keeping the vacuum from sucking the body into a particular configuration it cannot get out again.
The photograph does not look anything like that. So what gives? Is the crinkly layer not actually getting atmospheric pressure? That would mean that there is another layer below that does. I just don't see the space for a constant-volume enclosure inside.
I work there. That's the real deal.
Then let the Elon Musk bashing begin!
It's been the favourite pastime for trolls on Slashdot these last years, after all.
--- "To pee or not to pee, that is the question." ---
He can remove the flag when he no longer needs money from taxpayers.
what money?
Cuz if I wuz a spaceman
You'd sure care about me!
Wha?
Oh, yur breakin my heart!
Yur tearin it apart!
So,
uh,
FUCK YOU!
Bang!
Bang!
I mean, it's function is to keep you alive. There's no _balance_ in that, that's a zero fail mission. Balance implies trade offs. By definition this is one of those times you can't take away from B for A... at all. If there's _room_ for A, sure make some A... but leave B the fuck alone.
it's a flight suit.
not a space suit.
as far as hoses, I suppose it's hidden somewhere. since it's not for space walks and is just for sitting down basically while in flight to protect you if pressure drops or something.
world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
Can you poop in it?
...to go into orbit, and not to a concert at the Royal Albert Hall, why should one care about aestethics ?
... and function."
LOL. Right there you can tell they haven't got a clue. Aesthetics are completely irrelevant when it comes to mission critical components like spacesuits. And why didn't they use a solid spacesuit? A hundred times cheaper to manufacture, and much stronger.
Can you choose Klingon? tlho'!
Ezekiel 23:20
"Already tested to double vacuum pressure".
What is "double vacuum pressure"? Surely a vacuum is a vacuum? How can you have a double vacuum?
He's like a car salesman that starts by showing you the cup holders.
He promises us the Hyperloop, then shows us the inside of its cabin.
He promises human flight to the ISS, then shows us the space, oh wait, I mean flight suit, that will be worn by travelers.
When will he show us what he promised to show us?
Military regulation requires that the flag's stars always be on the forward-facing side, as he has it in the picture. Usually a civilian organization would do it in the other direction.
Look pretty awesome.
>Everybody knows that a space suit should have a flag
I disagree strongly. we nearly rid ourselves of religion. we need to put this divisive nazi-onalistic bullshit behind us as well.
Right.
Because anybody who disagress with you is a divisive Nazi.
Irony is completely lost on you, isn't it?
How does that work for flags without stars?
That's really the Stig's new suite.
I've always heard the backwards flag meant war time. If you look at pictures of troops before Afghanistan, there was no flag on the uniforms. There was during desert storm, too, but not before.
I'm curious about the part "hard to balance aesthetics and function". How will it look like? Space Marine Power Armor? Exo-skeleton? Really curious to see.
The flag is backward because George Washington was a satanic Freemason and this is part of their dark occult symbolism.
? SYNTAX ERROR
.. and that's because if you were running forward with a flag on a pole, the flag would be appear "backwards" from this side - as the pole would of course be at the front and the stars are nearest the pole.
I should elaborate that in the case of SpaceX, putting the stars first is appropriate symbolism. I think it's a clever double entendre.
Do they plan to send the Stig up? Surely he's want a British flag??
And a tinted visor. Also could they send Jeremy Clarkson up and leave him there for the sake of humanity!
Build a Man a Fire, and He'll Be Warm for a Day. Set a Man on Fire, and He'll Be Warm for the Rest of His Life.
Wow, you work in space? Can see stars out the window while wearing a flight suit?
Does the neck turn or is it fixed?
nt
Right ...
no, nationalism is divisive, just like religion is.
Traditional to display the national flag of the suits user, globalism is a dream fella always will be
If cabin pressure drops, the suit balloons up and makes it hard to move. An excellent way to counter this is by simply leaving less air in the suit, i.e. make it skintight. It's a shame they didn't do this; I was rather looking forward to our glorious future society where everyone walks around in skintight suits...
I mean, it's the future right? We have 3D printed houses and 3D printed cars now?
We know it is a nightmare to those who like power.
The interesting picture would be one with it inflated.
This one is just cool marketing.
This is interesting because X usually brings the beef.
The SpaceX suit is queer.
Nazi = National Socialist, you fucking idiot.
I think this flight suit was tested in Space 1999...
it's a flight suit.
not a space suit.
as far as hoses, I suppose it's hidden somewhere. since it's not for space walks and is just for sitting down basically while in flight to protect you if pressure drops or something.
But it does not have huge padded shoulders and epaulets! Cryst, a million sci-fi moves and television shows tell us that it has to have huge padded shoulders and epaulets!
The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
Because it's for NASA? NASA is an American government agency? Are you really that fucking dense, snowflake? Did the flag trigger you?
Please mod this up.
-Adolf Hitler
Just open the hatch and piss into the vacuum. Problem solved.
"Pressure drops" are a common misconception. Pressure actually increases the deeper you go in space.
because the world is such a warm and cuddly place and if only we did away with national boundaries we would have utopia.
name one human endeavor that isn't divisive. pro tip, you can't.
>Everybody knows that a space suit should have a flag I disagree strongly. we nearly rid ourselves of religion. we need to put this divisive nazi-onalistic bullshit behind us as well.
Bullshit? Then what would we be defined (i used the word defined loosely) by then? private enterprise? GDP? National debt? An arbitrary symbol? (what the Nazis in fact used)
This is my sig, there are many like it but this one is mine
This isn't a "space suit" it is a "flight suit". These will only be used during transport to and from orbit. They are not intended to be used for extended space walks. For space walks you would need the bulkier suits.
When flying from a pole, the starfield is always to be next to the pole, but when displayed as a graphic on a movable object, be it plane, boat, car, or person, the flag is displayed as it would be when blown by the relative wind when the object is moving forward. In this case, were the astronaut moving forward, the flag is blown back, placing the starfield on the right.
no, nationalism is divisive, just like religion is.
Not necessarily, it can be used also to distinguish a nation from an occupying foreign power, as was the case with Ireland's struggle against the British (to name a popular yet completely valid example). Personally I don't like this whole "one world, no nation" idea; people may be fundamentally the same across countries; there is only a finite number of observable personally types (if looked at from a robust and not an idiosyncratic perspective), but cultural differences do exist, and should be respected and preserved. Why should a person from a melting pot like, New York for example be expected to click with someone from a rural and homogeneous town in Japan for example.
This is my sig, there are many like it but this one is mine
"But we made ours with a special rabbit ear on the top so we could pipe in some music." -- The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou is a 2004 film starring Bill Murray as eccentric oceanographer Steve Zissou
NASA produced a book some few years ago on the history of flight suits called Dressing for Altitude. It's not the world's most riveting read, but it is freely available online and it may (somewhat ironically) have the best design and typography of any book I've read.
Also in a similarly space-related bent, if anyone here has not read John Clark's Ignition! then they should certainly do so. The subtitle of the book should probably be "The secret history of rocket fuel", but the author went for "An informal history of liquid rocket propellants" instead.
Those who advocate genocide deserve every protection afforded by law, and none afforded by common human decency.
I actually had the dead-tree version of that book and it is gorgeous. I found it in a little free library in my neighborhood, and returned it when finished.
It's an excellent read and makes clear why Playtex won the contract for the Apollo suits, against all odds until you see the history. 3 cheers for NASA choosing the best.
Elon Musk or Daft Punk?
Hey, Windows users, there is no such thing as "forward" slash, there is only slash and backslash.
Looks like a prototype for Stormtrooper armor.
Galactic Empire confirmed!
The American flag is put on with stars forwards. That way, it is 'not in retreat'. Of course, these days, not sure that is the case.
However, the flag will be replaced with whatever nation the suit owner has. Canadian flag for Canadian owner. etc. etc. And right now, that suit is targeted to NASA.
Also, the connections tend to be on the lower left-hand side.
Finally, look again at that material. I think that it is type of pleather, perhaps the same stuff that is now in tesla seats. If so, it is VERY strong and very rip/cut safe. In fact, the 'pleather' in Tesla only comes in white and black at this time, so, I really think that is the case.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
baloney.
When all nations are no longer in a cold/hot war and all contribute equally, then it is fine.
BUT, with China in a major cold war with the west ( and winning it on the economic front), it makes little sense to NOT take some pride.
As it is, ALL NATIONS display their flags. It seems like AMerica tends to be the one hit over the head for doing what everybody else is doing.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
fucking idiots like you do not read or understand history. NAZIs were socialist in name only. They were a FAR RIGHT group, even by Hitlers words.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
huh. So, what nations have gotten rid of their nationalism?
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
then it's crap.
Since these will be used for the short vanity flight of the very rich, can we not call them astronauts and, instead, call them Space Douches, or something else?
I'm pretty sure that the flag is necessary according to both the Geneva Convention (since it is technically a government uniform) and it is also needed according to the Outer Space Treaty in terms of what country is responsible for that astronaut's actions. It is legally required by international law and conventions of space travel.
Nope, that is the final design, minus a few tweaks. SpaceX engineers have actually been wearing it for human factors design tests.
NASA funded development of the falcon 9 and dragon and are currently funding development of the dragon 2. They are also the largest single buyer of the falcon 9 and the only buyer so far for the dragon capsule.
note: i'm known as plugwash most places but i screwd up registering that here somehow in the past and now can't register
huh. So, what nations have gotten rid of their nationalism?
Denmark. Flying the Danish flag outside your home as Americans are so wont to do would be seen as being in rather poor taste by the average Dane.
I would say: "Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's" - though I want to avoid religious connotation hence I would be categorized as a Elon-wanker. ;-)
But give to the man what he deserves, and he deserves at least some small praise. That some un-rightfully praise him into heavens is not his fault, and doesn't mean he deserves to be un-rightfully bashed neither. He's not at fault for wankers, nor for slashdot-stories, so I fail to see the logic why it would be justified to bash him without reason; it's as silly as blindly idolizing him without reason. Silliness and irrationality is not made less by adding silliness and irrationality. Both are sides immature in that case.
The most mature thing, is to be rational about things and evaluate it properly. This means acknowledging he has his faults, but also that he has accomplished some good things.
--- "To pee or not to pee, that is the question." ---
I think it looks like a white MC overall.
Like Vanilla Ice??
Clarkson would not fit in this suit but send him up anyway. The windbag will provide an auxillary propulsion source.
New Zealanders are well balanced with a chip on each shoulder. One represents Australia, the other the rest of the world
why does it need to show a flag?
So they know where to mail the body once it's found floating in the ocean?
So they have some idea on what language the wearer speaks if they land far off target?
So they don't get shot/hanged as a spy if they land far off target? (Not that it'd save them universally but wearing a country identifier does conform to international laws on things like piracy, spies, and such.)
Because decades of seeing pictures of government funded astronauts wearing flags on their spacesuits people expect flags on spacesuits? In other words, marketing.
I am armed because I am free. I am free because I am armed.
Isn't it also supposed to have a health readout on a chest plate and/or armband? How else are people supposed to know that the air runs out in 24 minutes but there's 28 minutes before they land and it's safe to open the hatch?
I am armed because I am free. I am free because I am armed.
Isn't it also supposed to have a health readout on a chest plate and/or armband? How else are people supposed to know that the air runs out in 24 minutes but there's 28 minutes before they land and it's safe to open the hatch?
Oh, they'll know. At least 4 minutes before landing. That's calle "just in time expiration".
The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
The Nazis were a left wing group in competition with the Communists and the other German socialist parties, some of which they were political allies with before they seized power. Painting them as hard right has always been a propaganda ploy of the left.