12 facts about spacesuits you never imagined k6q1n

Any child interested in technology or space sidereal must have seen in textbooks, commercials or any other type of media at least one copy of the space suits used by astronauts. Practically a symbol of the technological development that allowed humans to reach far away space, the suit worn by astronauts has a history as interesting as the journeys themselves. kk6y

Despite serving a very simple and practical purpose, which is to keep the astronaut alive, the spacesuit also has its curiosities. After all, how are they made? What are they made of? How were they created? Where they live? All this today, in showmetech.

What are spacesuits and why are they important? 4no52

As the name suggests, these are the suits worn by astronauts in space. Seriously, it doesn't get any simpler than that. They were specifically designed to keep cosmic explorers safe and ensure survival in this hostile environment for humans that is the outer space. Of course, it doesn't protect the from alien incursions, as in mars attacks, nor does it defend the astronaut's mind against manipulation by agents of the Second Foundation, but it is very effective in material , especially with regard to radiation emitted in space.

Costing 12 million dollars per unit (almost 70 million reais, in the current conversion), space suits protect the astronaut, for example, from sudden and brutal changes in temperature. When close to the sun, the temperature can reach up to 120º C, while, further away, professionals face up to 156 degrees Celsius. negative. In addition, these true futuristic armors also guarantee oxygen for survival outside the space station.

“What happens if I try to walk around the universe without a spacesuit?” you might be asking yourself by now. Well you survive! Amazing, no? Too bad this survival will last, on average, 15 seconds, and you will feel your lungs collapsing as you inflate like a balloon. It doesn't look very inviting.

Spacesuits are made from several parts. 4o5h3z

Every little bit of the spacesuit is made with a purpose, meant to protect every part of an astronaut. Unlike the old armors, which had the parts of the ts unprotected, for example, the clothes intended for astronauts are completely sealed, preventing the age of dust particles and also having oxygen reserves.

Protection from radiation is key 6q132s

If we, on Earth, have a justified and astonishing fear of everything that involves radiation — see Chernobyl, Ukraine and, on a national scale, the episode of Cesium 137 in Goiânia — imagine the astronauts who are subject to direct solar radiation, so intense and deadly. Therefore, the suits have resistant protection against this problem, although this defense is temporary and is not indicated for long periods of exposure.

Pressurization and stability 1a5w12

Do you see the half-circle design of the outfit, as if it were a bouncy but stiff stationery doll? Well then. If it weren't for internal pressurization, achieved through an elastic, rubber-like material and also through pressurized oxygen, you'd probably look like this when trying to survive the infamous 15 seconds. Furthermore, this adds better reflexes to the astronaut's movements. Have you ever thought, going through a situation like Sandra Bullock in Gravity?

puncture proof 3v1e5s

Or perforations, for translation purists. Being in space is a constant risk, whether due to temperature, radiation, gravity or the small debris that flies through the environment. It is not uncommon for these objects, usually small pieces of meteorites no bigger than a finger, to reach 27.000 kilometers per hour. It's nearly 10x the speed of an SR-71 Blackbird, the fastest manned aircraft ever made.

Entering and exiting the land is done with another costume 634f46

Contrary to popular belief (and the movies), astronauts don't go straight into space wearing their spacesuits. And they don't come back with them either. For this, orange costumes are used, which are also more or less known by the general public.

I want to go to the bathroom 421p36

What if the stars line up just fine when taking a walk to repair the hull of the space station and the astronaut needs to pee? Fortunately, spacesuits have compartments on the side that store urine, which prevents embarrassing situations and ensures the professional's comfort. Now, about number 2, luckily I don't have any answers.

moon boots f2x2g

The first group of NASA astronauts who needed to walk on the moon had to wear special boots, created specifically to ensure mobility and grip on the rocky and different surface of the moon. These boots became a fashion trend because, well, that's how capitalism works, and many copies can be found even today.

Getting in and out of space stations is done with spacesuits. 1v4l4k

Unlike entering and returning to Earth, when there is a need to enter the spacecraft in a space station or leave it, this process is done using the spacesuits themselves. This is mandatory in case there is an unforeseen problem with pressurization when connecting or disconnecting the rocket to/from the space station.

NASA's first suits were from Project Mercury 203d2t

Project Mercury was the first Western project to consider launching humans into outer space. For this, it was necessary to develop these spacesuits, which were used only inside the rocket.

The first costume of all was the Soviet 4j5b2q

O SK-1 it was the first spacesuit created, this at the time of the space race set within the larger context of the Cold War. Who dressed the firstborn was the Russian astronaut Yuri Gagarin, in 1961, for what would become known as the first human-led spaceflight.

Space suits evolved from flight suits 3b675e

Pilots had already been the guinea pigs of specific flight suits for high-altitude flights, mainly during the 30s of the last century, when aviation began to develop with more potential. About 30 years later, these suits were improved and ed from aviators to astronauts.

The future of spacesuits 7g49

The launch of SpaceX, by the now famous Elon Musk, showed major innovations in the design of astronaut suits. Instead of a big, heavy and spacious structure, the new suits are more compact and give the wearer greater mobility, while at the same time guaranteeing the same protections. NASA's development lab is also researching new ways to improve clothing, betting on a SmartSuit that will provide the astronaut with better movement efficiency and also a tissue regeneration mechanism. Very curious.

Not only are the spacesuits beautiful, but the NASA images showing multiple galaxies !

Source: Interesting Engineering