A new NASA video looks at the challenges facing NASA when it comes to designing the next-generation spacesuits for crewed missions to the moon and beyond.
“A spacesuit is basically a self-contained environment,” Don Barker, suit architecture lead at NASA, says in a video released by the space agency this week. “It’s a mini spacecraft that is tightly wound around a human body.”
When it comes to the lunar missions, the biggest challenge facing spacesuit designers is working out how to retain suit mobility while protecting the wearer against hazardous dust. Barker explains that dust on the moon is different to Earth dust. “Lunar regolith looks like it’s a fine-grained material when you see the pictures of the Apollo boots in it … But you’re going to see anywhere from broken rock shapes to fractured glass shapes — that’s what it looks like under the microscope — of such a small particle size range that it gets in everything.” And yes, those fragments can damage fabrics.
Possible solutions include adding a special protective layer or charging the suits to repel dust, though the research is ongoing.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
NASA Satellite Frees From Earth's Orbit as Part of Lunar Landing PlanThe relatively low cost of the mission — NASA put it at $32.7 million — marked the beginning of a new era for space exploration.
Read more »
NASA scientists explain why they can't analyze Mars samples aboard the ISSTwo NASA scientists answered the public's most burning Mars Sample Return questions.
Read more »
NASA satellite leaves orbit around Earth, heads toward moonA NASA satellite launched just last month has broken free from the Earth's orbit and is now headed toward the moon.
Read more »
NASA satellite breaks from orbit around Earth, heads to moonThe Capstone satellite will take four months to reach the moon as it cruises along using minimal energy.
Read more »