How have NASA suits changed over time? 5d6u3p

Humanity already has a definite year to return to lunar soil. Through Artemis III mission, planned to take place in 2025, humans will be on our natural satellite after more than 50 years of absence, since the last manned mission was made in 1972. 6d644v

As everything is prepared years before it actually happens, we will have new costumes from NASA that present many novelties in relation to the last ones used by the astronauts who traveled to Moon. Find out what's new and how it all evolved over the years.

What's New in NASA's New Artemis III Suit 17521p

The mission Artemis III will be marked by not only being the first to put a person of color on the moon, but also by the fact that, also for the first time, a woman will be stepping on lunar soil. The costumes for this true milestone in the history of special exploration have already been presented and have 5 new features.

Greater mobility h256z

If you have watched the first three seasons of the series For All Mankind, surely realized that the first space suit of the NASA most appeared to be made of aluminum foil by the end of the first season. And despite the utopia of the Apple TV +, this was also done in real life.

In 1959, when the US space agency began flying to the Moon, it was quite difficult for astronauts to move around in the midst of so many materials to prevent radiation from entering and still allow oxygen to be delivered.

We also have new design features that can prevent falls and improve communication across the company's systems. NASA. It is important to that in 1972, during the Apollo 17, astronauts fell due to the high weight of the suits.

NASA stopped making the suits 34m2c

For 15 years, the US agency made the space suit for all its missions, but that changed with the arrival of new missions. The new costumes NASA presented for the 2025 mission were developed by the company Axiom space and the expenditure forecast is US$ 3,5 billion until 2035.

This is different than developing a SpaceX suit, for example: Elon Musk's company takes care of both the rocket development process and the clothing for the astronauts.

Suits will be developed for missions on the Moon and also on ISS (International Space Station or International Space Station). The manufacturer points out that the new clothes for those who will be on the Moon now allow longer distances to be covered without causing fatigue due to the weight of the suit. The outsourced company ensures that everything is now easier to wear. This can help in case of an emergency, in addition to comfort delivery.

lighted helmets 4j1u5u

One of the items most used by astronauts until 1972 were backup lights. But when they go back to Moon, astronauts will land in a place where there is no sunlight. A Axiom space managed to develop a helmet model that has an accessory reminiscent of the famous ring lights that we know

The light can be activated at any moment due to the good flexibility of the new costumes of the NASA, and that should help astronauts do a better job. Another novelty is that the rear side of the helmets has an HD camera that allows recordings of the spacecraft and the Moon.

Improved gloves and boots 2k5e9

Before we had technologies that warmed the hands and feet of astronauts, most NASA suits drank from the source of thermal insulation so that astronauts would not have problems. It is worth ing that the Moon has no atmosphere, so its temperature varies from -184 degrees Celsius at night to 214 degrees Celsius during the day. Some poles have a constant temperature of -96 degrees Celsius.

The new NASA suit, developed by Axiom Space, has an even greater thermal insulation system in the boots so that the temperature is controlled and the astronauts do not go through trouble. In addition, the gloves have a system that considers the effects of microgravity. In practice, this allows objects to be held more firmly. A NASA states that these changes are "additional protections against hazards on the Moon".

Black suits are for testing only 4z3b18

Since there are still about two years until the mission actually takes off, the NASA will conduct tests with the new costumes. The US space agency created a testing laboratory to ensure that the new technologies are really working. When certification is complete, then the new suits will be made from Mylar and Kevlar material, all white.

The location chosen for testing was the Johnson Space Center Neutral Buoyancy Laboratoryr, in Houston, at Texas (USA). Experts point out that white brings greater thermal comfort to those who wear the NASA suit due to reflecting light and radiation. Black does just the opposite: it absorbs all of that.

The History of NASA Suits So Far 5y4a5k

In total, the NASA already had 12 versions of suits for their missions. Just like rockets and other technologies, clothing continued to evolve to deliver greater safety and practicality for astronauts. Check out photos and details of all of them.

Mercury 1 costume – 1959 4t4245

Looking more like a suit made of aluminum foil, the first version of NASA's suits were very different from what we have today. First developed for pilots who flew high-altitude fighters, the American space agency needed a suit that could protect astronauts in the event of a sudden depressurization in the cabin, which could cause everyone's death.

Each member of the crew who flew on MercuryOn 1959, had three models: one for flight, one reserve and one for training. Official data also show that the value for these three variants was US$ 20 (approximately R$ 104 in direct conversion). The big problem here is that the astronauts couldn't turn their necks, so it was necessary to turn the whole body when necessary.

Mission:Mercury 3

Costume 2 Mercury – 1961 5w6t1h

Compared to the first suit, the second version now had an open-circuit breathing system. Also new is the climate control, upgraded to an aluminum-clad nylon casing. New safety boots also appeared in this second costume.

Finally, another significant change is in the fingers of the gloves, which in the second version were more curved to help press buttons and activate switches. The focus here was to take a shortcut to pressure, which can, for some reason, end up preventing everything from being done at the right time.

Missions: from Mercury 4 to 9.

Gemini Suit 3 – March 1961 4q154f

Also developed by NASA, the Gemini suit is based on a high-altitude pressure model, the X-15. It was used by astronauts in launch, flight and landing activities. Another novelty is that, unlike the costume Mercury, this version is designed to be completely flexible when pressurized.

Astronauts also had air conditioning units attached to their suits, which functioned as large air stations. The weight of a model like this was 10,7 kg and its big drawback was that the climate control was pretty bad. In addition, the front plate of the helmet was weaker.

Mission: gemini 3

Costume 2 – Gemini – June 1965 6b2020

With more quests going on, the NASA upgraded his costume once more. The big news here is the addition of insulation to improve temperature control in sunlight as well as shade.

We had the addition of built-in boots and the detachable visor that allowed for closure when needed. Previously, the helmet plate was made of a material called Plexiglas; the new suit now has a faceplate made of polycarbonate plastic, which is more resistant.

Missions: from Gemini 4 to 8 (not used in Gemini 7).

Suit for Gemini 7 – December 1965 5q2f58

The big change here is in the hood with the front lens still made of polycarbonate plastic, but instead of a helmet we have a zipper with a transparent and fixed visor. The item placed on the astronauts' heads was also more similar to what the US Navy used; a microphone and listening device were finally made available to the astronauts so that communication was better.

The zippers were part of a true innovation, as they allowed crew to adjust and remove the entire suit during flight.

Missions: Gemini 7.

Costumes for the Apollo Project 2fc3u

In total, we had three versions that helped Neil Armstrong stepping on the moon for the first time. The first of them had the famous “jetpack” which was nothing less than a backpack with the name of Extravehicular Mobility Units (EMUs).

The models had a set of pressure suits and a portable system for any emergency that could put the astronaut's life at risk. The first version was used on Apollo 1. See a photo:

The second version was developed after the fire of the Apollo 1, being used between missionss Apollo 7 to 14. The model weighed 96,2 kg and was used for activities with cars on the moon and also for landing. The information from NASA is that it allowed an astronaut to walk on lunar soil for 7 hours and, in emergency cases, still offered another 30 minutes until returning to the spacecraft.

The third version, for Apollo missions 15, 16 and 17, had some news. It was adapted for the use of the jeeps of the NASA, also known as Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV). The third version backpacks were now able to store more oxygen, energy and cooling water.

We cannot fail to mention the small energy bars carried under the upper ring of the helmets. When wearing the suit for external exploration, the astronauts also had small, collar-shaped drinking water bags for any emergencies.

Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) – 1984 6c3u22

A suit with a special backpack that allowed flight over space was developed by NASA, but after a review it was decided that the use of MMU it was too risky. The big fear was that, as there was no belt that attached the astronaut to the space shuttle, any problem with the engines could leave a person adrift in space.

The US space agency decided it was safer to use robotic arms or vehicles that ensured the astronaut would not detach from their main vehicle. But it existed and was even used by many people.

Space shuttle suits – from 1981 to 1994 2jt1c

Although the space shuttle missions were known for their famous pumpkin-hued suits, the first ones had a more earthy color. In 1981, when John Young e Robert Crippen took off on the shuttle for the first time, they wore the ejection escape suit. :

The main reason why this different color was chosen is that the astronauts were not exploring outside the space shuttle, so only an emergency ejection suit was chosen. This costume was used until 1988.

Everything changed in 1994, when the astronauts on the space shuttle finally left the vehicle. Known as Pumpkin Suit, this rather flashy model had a partial pressure suit used for takeoff and mission flight STS-26 in 1988 e STS-65 in 1994. The first version of the pumpkin suit weighed 13,6 kg and its primary life was the shuttle itself. In case of emergency, the NASA guaranteed the astronaut's life for ten minutes.

Another version of the orange suit was even developed for activities done inside cars, especially between missions. STS-64 to STS-135. The weight of this model was 13 kg and the focus was on missions outside the space shuttle, which was also the primary life . NASA's guarantee was also ten minutes.

Among the costumes mentioned in this article, which one is your favorite? Tell us us Comment!

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With information: Daily Mail

reviewed by Glaucon Vital in 20 / 03 / 23.