Watch: NASA reveals new spacesuits for future missions to the Moon and Mars

[midian182]

Forward-looking: NASA has shown off two spacesuits that astronauts will use to walk on the lunar surface. They’re still in development, but the space agency says they’ll be ready for its planned return to the moon in 2024.

Two engineers showed off the spacesuits, which will be used for the Project Artemis moon program, at NASA’s Washington DC headquarters. The bulkier of the two suits, called the Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU), will be worn on the moon’s surface. It offers more flexibility than previous designs, allowing astronauts to reach overhead, across their bodies, and letting them twist at the waist - movements that previous suits couldn’t perform.

In addition to fitting a wide range of astronaut sizes, the xEMU is designed to cope with the extreme environment of the moon’s surface. It has no zippers or cables, and the components are sealed, keeping out the fine dust. It can also withstand temperatures between 250 and minus 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

Introducing our next-generation spacesuit for #Artemis missions! Here, spacesuit engineer Kristine Davis demonstrates the improved mobility in the new suit, important for working on the Moon's surface. Watch live: https://t.co/n8wWhy876P pic.twitter.com/9g6sfOaPbf

— NASA (@NASA) 15 October 2019

"Basically, my job is to take a basketball, shape it like a human, keep them alive in a harsh environment, and give them the mobility to do their job," said NASA's lead spacesuit engineer Amy Ross .

The other suit is made of an orange fabric and is much thinner. Astronauts will wear them while traveling to and from the moon, and they’ll be able to live inside the suits for days should a spacecraft experience sudden depressurization.

"This is the first suit we've designed in about 40 years," said Chris Hansen, a manager at NASA's spacesuit design office.

In addition to using the suits on the moon, NASA plans on adding modifications so they can eventually be used for future missions to Mars.

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https://www.techspot.com/news/82360-watch-nasa-reveals-new-spacesuits-future-missions-moon.html

 

[TomSEA]

They still look bulky as hell. Nothing like the spacesuits I see in the movies.

 

[Uncle Al]

HAHAHAHAHAHA ..... doesn't take much of a space suit to walk out on a sound stage! ROFL

 

[wiyosaya]

They still look bulky as hell. Nothing like the spacesuits I see in the movies.

Here's a picture of the suit worn by Cmdr. Scott on the moon for Apollo 15 -

And Neil Armstrong's Apollo 11 moon suit is pictured here - http://www.hightechscience.org/apollo_spacesuit.htm

Watching the video is interesting, IMO. The first suit has an articulated waist and hips which is a large departure from the Apollo era suits and appears to make it easier to walk around in them.

 

[netman]

The xEMU suite got fatter to accommodate internal potty....!

 

[bluetooth fairy]

"It can also withstand temperatures between 250 and minus 250 degrees Fahrenheit."

"This is the first suit we've designed in about 40 years"

I'm not worried about these suits, but the astronauts. But seriously why do they show off this stuff in public? Are they going to allow the suits for preorder through Amazon?

 

[Carlos GarPov]

Bulky and super old fashion. I bet the ones Elon Musk will send to Space will bring movie like suits

 

[wiyosaya]

"It can also withstand temperatures between 250 and minus 250 degrees Fahrenheit."

"This is the first suit we've designed in about 40 years"

I'm not worried about these suits, but the astronauts. But seriously why do they show off this stuff in public? Are they going to allow the suits for preorder through Amazon?

They want to let US citizens know what they are getting for their tax dollars.

Bulky and super old fashion. I bet the ones Elon Musk will send to Space will bring movie like suits

If space were a fashion show or a movie set, maybe, but it is not. These were designed by real scientists, not a crew trying to deflect from the latest Tesla earnings report.

 

[Dennis Morrison]

Prison Jumpsuit Orange is my favorite.

 

[tipstir]

Current Tech to project them in space or on other planets.

 

[Carlos GarPov]

"It can also withstand temperatures between 250 and minus 250 degrees Fahrenheit."

"This is the first suit we've designed in about 40 years"

I'm not worried about these suits, but the astronauts. But seriously why do they show off this stuff in public? Are they going to allow the suits for preorder through Amazon?

The last question (phrase) was hilarious