\n\u201cObviously it\u2019s protecting the crew\u2019s head\u2026but it also houses the microphones, as well as the valves that are regulating pressure in the suit. We had to design the gloves so that they would work with the touchscreen, so the gloves also have to do a number of other things like the rest of the suit. So all of those things had to come together\u2026the suit is not just a piece of hardware, it\u2019s not just a suit. It\u2019s a very personal thing. It\u2019s Bob\u2019s suit. It\u2019s Doug\u2019s suit.\u201d<\/p>\n
Operational Requirement of High Technology Spacesuits<\/h1>\n
https:\/\/www.americanscientist.org\/article\/the-past-and-future-space-suit indicates that<\/p>\n
The creation of an effective space suit begins with a fundamental understanding of the environments in which the suit will be used and the capabilities the suit will need. This information is used to develop a set of requirements that guide engineers and technicians in the selection of materials, design of components, test protocols, and overall configuration of the space suit system.<\/p>\n
Space suits are typically thought of as being used in environments such as low Earth orbit and the surface of the Moon. However, they are often designed to operate also during numerous mission phases beyond spacewalks, or extravehicular activity (EVA), including launch, abort, landing, and emergency operations, which further increase their complexity. In low Earth orbit, the astronaut must be protected from and operate in the vacuum of space, as well as thermal extremes ranging from +120 degrees Celsius to \u2013150 degrees, microgravity, rapid changes from intense sunlight to absolute darkness as the Earth is orbited every 90 minutes, and micrometeoroids and orbital debris traveling at speeds ranging from 8 to 16 kilometers per second. In other words, it is a very dangerous and difficult place to live and work, so a space suit has to function flawlessly.<\/p>\n
The environmental challenges increase on the Moon or planetary bodies. In addition to the same threats encountered in low Earth orbit, the Moon has one-sixth the gravity of Earth, which alters human motion, and it is covered with fine particles of lunar dust that are sharp-edged and abrasive. The dust, if not managed correctly, can quickly degrade materials and clog bearing joints, rendering a suit ineffective. Mars, on the other hand, has three-eighths the gravity of Earth, has a slight atmosphere, and appears to have more forgiving soil that has been worn down by wind so it is not sharp-edged, but in some cases may include chemical oxidants that can degrade polymeric materials.
\n![](\"https:\/\/www.americanscientist.org\/sites\/americanscientist.org\/files\/20158414273411341-2015-09CadoganF2.png\")
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Space Suit Components<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n\nSpace suits are really single-occupant spacecraft. They consist of an articulated anthropomorphic pressure vessel that conforms to the wearer, known as the space suit assembly, and a portable life support system that typically looks like a backpack. Together, the suit and the life support equipment are called an Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) in NASA terms. Much of the surface area of the space suit is made from\u00a0softgoods,\u00a0<\/em>layers of textiles and flexible membranes (See figure below<\/em>). They are sewn and thermally bonded together to make an airtight vessel that is pressurized with pure oxygen to 29.7 kilopascals. The result is similar in composition to a football or basketball. The suit consists of three major layers: the\u00a0bladder\u00a0<\/em>that contains the oxygen, the\u00a0restraint\u00a0<\/em>that provides the structure, and the\u00a0thermal and micrometeoroid layer\u00a0<\/em>that provides protection from the environments. Each of these assemblies performs specific functions and operates independently, but they must collectively function as a single unit to help maintain the breathing atmosphere, pressure, and temperature necessary to protect the astronauts from the space environment. Together, a total thickness of less than one-tenth of an inch protects the astronaut from space.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.americanscientist.org\/sites\/americanscientist.org\/files\/20158414322411343-2015-09CadoganF4.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Space suits are really single-occupant spacecraft. They consist of an articulated anthropomorphic pressure vessel that conforms to the wearer, known as the space suit assembly, and a portable life support system that typically looks like a backpack. Together, the suit and the life support equipment are called an Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) in NASA terms. Much of the surface area of the space suit is made from\u00a0softgoods,\u00a0<\/em>layers of textiles and flexible membranes (See figure below<\/em>). They are sewn and thermally bonded together to make an airtight vessel that is pressurized with pure oxygen to 29.7 kilopascals. The result is similar in composition to a football or basketball. The suit consists of three major layers: the\u00a0bladder\u00a0<\/em>that contains the oxygen, the\u00a0restraint\u00a0<\/em>that provides the structure, and the\u00a0thermal and micrometeoroid layer\u00a0<\/em>that provides protection from the environments. Each of these assemblies performs specific functions and operates independently, but they must collectively function as a single unit to help maintain the breathing atmosphere, pressure, and temperature necessary to protect the astronauts from the space environment. Together, a total thickness of less than one-tenth of an inch protects the astronaut from space.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n