Questions tagged [spacesuits]
Questions regarding the spacesuits that astronauts wear whilst in space
90
questions
11
votes
1
answer
5k
views
How have space suits dissipated the heat removed from astronauts?
I never thought about this until reading the comments below this answer. To radiate something like 150W (a very conservative lower limit of human + suit systems heat production - see @Uwe 's comment ...
- 149k
21
votes
3
answers
25k
views
Puncturing space suit during EVA. What would happen?
What would happen, if the space suit of a spacewalking crew was punctured during the extravehicular activity (EVA)? What are the chances of this happening? Has this already happened to anyone in the ...
- 351
7
votes
2
answers
1k
views
How does the thin gold film in the glass of spacesuit helmets block thermal IR but transmit visible? What's the property?
Comments below this answer suggest that there is a thin gold coating on the glass of spacesuit helmets that blocks thermal IR (say roughly about 10 to 30 microns) but is mostly transparent to visible ...
- 149k
9
votes
6
answers
1k
views
Will suits worn on Mars lose kilograms of "expendable water" each time they are used?
In this excellent answer to How have space suits dissipated the heat removed from astronauts? I learned that space suits from the Apollo missions and even when used in space walks from the ISS today ...
- 149k
20
votes
2
answers
10k
views
How would an astronaut's hand react to a hard vacuum?
What would happen if an astronaut took his/her glove off in space but had the rest of their body completely sealed off?
My guess is that the hand would start to boil or freeze depending on location.
- 1,108
10
votes
1
answer
855
views
What ever happened with that pressure suit design based on elastic tension in contact with skin?
I remember several years ago seeing a pressure suit design based on carefully engineered elastic material in contact with the skin. Instead of pressure on the skin produced by a pressurized gas, the ...
- 149k
14
votes
2
answers
4k
views
Why is the EMU space suit pressurized to 4.3 psi specifically?
Wikipedia claims that space suits that use pure oxygen are pressurized to 4.7 psi, instead of 3.0 psi, to account for carbon dioxide and water vapor pressure as per the alveolar gas equation (although ...
- 855
35
votes
2
answers
8k
views
How do ISS astronauts "get their stripes"?
This answer shows two astronauts on a spacewalk outside the ISS. The caption reads:
Rick Mastracchio as EV1 (red stripes) and Mike Hopkins as EV2 (no stripes) leaving the airlock during US EVA-24 (...
- 149k
27
votes
5
answers
15k
views
What does "double vacuum pressure" mean in space-suit testing?
There was news of the new SpaceX space suit in Reddit and now a mention in Elon Musk's Instagram where he says:
First picture of SpaceX spacesuit. More in days to follow. Worth noting that this ...
- 149k
7
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How were Apollo spacesuits cooled during simulations/rehearsals on Earth?
The answer and comments to How have space suits dissipated the heat removed from astronauts? explain that the Apollo space suits used the sublimation of ice into the vacuum of space to constantly ...
- 149k
78
votes
4
answers
13k
views
How do astronauts on EVA deal with nose itching?
It must be absolutely torturous if your nose starts itching and you can't scratch it for several hours, when you're on EVA. How do astronauts deal with it? Are they undergoing a special training, or ...
- 54.4k
12
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How smart is an EMU (...spacesuit)?
What level of circuitry is built into the US EVA spacesuit (EMU)?
What is the sophistication of control algorithms used? (PID, discrete logic, $H_\infty$?)
Rationale: re-reading Andy Weir's book.
- 11.4k
8
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Why ISS Astronauts have red stripes?
After seeing the interesting question How do ISS astronauts “get their stripes”?, I was wondering why the color red was chosen for the identifying stripe:
I am assuming that red is the best color ...
- 1,063
8
votes
2
answers
678
views
What first aid options do astronauts have during an EVA?
If an astronaut gets unconscious or ill I suppose the colleague will help her to the airlock. But are there any other measures that could be taken already outdoors? Do they have duct tape to seal a ...
- 26.9k
3
votes
1
answer
598
views
If an ISS emergency requires pressure suits temporarily, can they still use the laptops? Move the cursor?
This answer to the question Which specifications should a tablet computer have in order to work in outer space? points out that capacitive-sensitive touch pads, mouse pads and touch-sensitive screens ...
- 149k
3
votes
1
answer
636
views
How to get water inside a space suit?
How is water transferred from outside the suit to inside the suit?
- 1
2
votes
1
answer
332
views
Can the ISS's NORS tanks be used to recharge spacesuit or spacecraft oxygen supplies?
In this answer I said:
In an emergency a pressurized tank of oxygen gas can be an immediate source of oxygen to pressurize the station, and (possibly) other thinks such as tanks for suits. But for ...
- 149k
66
votes
1
answer
12k
views
Why do astronauts wear heels?
I was reading another question on the site when I noticed the EVA suit sports heels.
Why do they put heels on space suits? (cropped detailed view)
- 747
51
votes
5
answers
6k
views
How possible are 'space jumps'?
Have you seen the first of the two new Star Trek movies? Kirk (Chris Pine), Sulu (John Cho) and a red shirt perform something really awesome in this film: They jump from space down to a planet, ...
- 6,571
23
votes
3
answers
15k
views
Does Mars space suit have to be pressurized?
Various sci-fi movies treat Mars atmosphere differently, anywhere between "you just need oxygen rebreather" and "Your eyes will pop out and your head will explode". Meanwhile, I haven't seen any solid ...
- 54.4k
18
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Do astronauts on board the ISS have a backup spacesuit?
Do astronauts on the International Space Station have a backup spacesuit with them so that they could use it in case of any malfunction with one of the spacesuits?
If so, how many spacesuits does ...
- 18.1k
18
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Is there any reason why American spacesuits color changed over years?
From Mercury silver suits to orange Space Shuttle ones, color of space suits have changed over years. Is there any reason for it?
user55
16
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What was the source of the fluid in Luca Parmitano's suit?
There has been a lot of press (example) and commentary about the near drowning in space of Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano on July 16, 2013. We have a question Would the blast clearing technique ...
- 27k
11
votes
2
answers
22k
views
How much protection do space EVA suits offer against radiation for the wearer?
How much protection do space EVA suits offer against radiation? Do they shield certain kinds of radiation more than others? Any idea how many sieverts an individual is exposed to wearing a space ...
- 365
9
votes
2
answers
842
views
What progress has there been in the design of modern spacesuits?
In the early 90's I remember seeing a program where they were discussion new designs in space suits that would be more flexible and allow for less restrictive movements of the occupant. These suits ...
- 992
8
votes
1
answer
1k
views
How did Alexey Leonov bleed off the pressure in his space suit?
On the Voskhod 2 mission, cosmonaut Alexey Leonov performed a spacewalk which ran into issues when Lenov's spacesuit had some sort of pressure buildup. From the wiki -
[Leonov] was forced to bleed ...
5
votes
2
answers
213
views
Non-biological end effectors (hands) in spacesuit design
Designing the 'end effectors' or gloves of a spacesuit is notoriously difficult. Hands have are extremely flexible and are the primary interface that humans use to interact physically with the world.
...
- 16.9k
4
votes
1
answer
388
views
Current and near-future space suit odor reduction technology
Fox News' Bill Nye says Mars colonies won't happen: 'Are you guys high?' gives some highlights of science educator Bill Nye (The Science Guy)'s thoughts on Mars, moving there, living in artificial ...
- 149k
2
votes
1
answer
229
views
Can air pressure be accumulated this way for a biodome or spacesuit?
Using plastic or rubber or something similar and transparent be inflated with each layer having a increasing pressure lessening the strain on the containing material? When one or two layers fails the ...
- 1
17
votes
2
answers
2k
views
What's the normal leakage rate for a space suit?
What's the normal leakage rate for a space suit?
For a modern (as in, the model is still in use today) EVA suit in normal condition, undamaged, etc.
If there is a wide variation in leak rates for ...
- 1,121
16
votes
1
answer
2k
views
What is the power requirement of a spacesuit?
A spacesuit is a fairly easily identifiable piece of equipment in spacecraft. It's purpose is to keep it's interior distinct from the exterior in terms of the pressure, and temperature differentials ...
- 13.7k
14
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Could an EVA Suit meant for Mars be used for EVA on another celestial, or vice-versa?
A quick follow-up to What is the power requirement of a spacesuit?
The Apollo 11 crew were in a vacuum out on Luna; their space-suits fulfilled the purpose of a basic space-suit about which Wikipedia ...
- 13.7k
13
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Did they manufacture six space suits for Apollo astronaut James A. Lovell?
An Apollo astronaut got three space suits, one for training on Earth, one for flight and one as backup.
James A. Lovell did fly on Apollo 8 as Command Module pilot and on Apollo 13 as Mission ...
- 48.7k
12
votes
2
answers
851
views
What are the requirements differences between Escape Suit and EVA Suit?
I read up articles on both types - EVA suits meant for spacewalks, and Escape Suits used in launch and reentry - but other than bright orange color for ACES making it easy to find and the fact that ...
- 54.4k
12
votes
3
answers
4k
views
How do space suits offer heat protection i.e. during the lunar day?
I didn't know that during lunar day temperature is up to +100°C.
This would mean US astronauts were rather to protect against heat than cold? How was this solved (normally, space suits protect from ...
- 2,910
11
votes
2
answers
824
views
How are Rotating Joints in a Spacesuit Gas-tight?
In Spacesuits, especially in newer ones like the Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU), there are a large number of rotating joints at different portions like wrists, arms, torso, etc.
...
- 3,206
7
votes
1
answer
353
views
How many spacesuits were specifically manufactured for John Young?
John W. Young was a legendary astronaut:
The first American in space after the original Mercury Seven, as Gus Grissom's co-pilot in Gemini 3. He got in trouble during this flight for smuggling ...
- 47.6k
6
votes
3
answers
425
views
How much of a drag is it, orbiting the Earth in a space suit?
An astronaut in a spacesuit travels around the Earth at the same altitude as the ISS. Let's say the astronaut leads the ISS by 1000 meters along the same orbit.
After one orbit, how much velocity has ...
- 149k
6
votes
2
answers
1k
views
What does the interior of a spacesuit smell like?
What does a new spacesuit and breathing apparatus smell like when you first put it on?
The natural progression of the question is does the scent wear off and does it get to smelling stagnant and ...
- 81
5
votes
0
answers
522
views
Why is the Sokol suit white instead of safety orange?
The Sokol is a Russian rescue suit that continues to be used today$^{(1)}$ for launch and landing. It protects the wearer from depressurization, but because it has no micrometeroid and limited ...
- 47.6k
4
votes
1
answer
779
views
New Russian Sokol space suit [closed]
According to the pictures of the mission Soyuz MS-03, the crew is wearing a new "Sokol" space suit. The previous crew was still wearing the 1980 "vintage" KV2 version.
Any information about this new ...
- 899
2
votes
1
answer
194
views
How will space suit computers likely be radiation hardened?
Writing this comment inspired the following question:
Space suits are critical to life, so if there's a solar storm and the astronaut has received a less-than-lethal dose of radiation, they'll be ...
- 149k
2
votes
1
answer
3k
views
What is the blue box that the Exp. 53 Astronuats/Cosmonauts carried with them?
Looking at a video from Roscosmos on instagram, Exp. 52 Cosmonaut Sergey Ryazansky carried a blue box with him during his walk to the Soyuz rocket.
Upon looking at more videos of Astronauts boarding ...
- 4,285
2
votes
4
answers
391
views
How far are space-walking helmet faceplates from the eyes? How far will I have to hold my "space binoculars" from my eyes during a space walk?
I'm on a space walk and comet Kohoutek is passing by and I've brought my specially designed space binoculars with me to look at it.
I left my Nikon Monarch 8x42 binoculars inside because with an eye ...
- 149k
28
votes
1
answer
3k
views
What sounds do astronauts hear inside their helmets during an EVA?
Besides the communications over the headsets, do astronauts hear any other sounds inside their helmets? Do they hear their own breath? Are there any mechanical sounds audible? Does the circulating ...
- 6,897
17
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Why is the Sokol spacesuit considered inadequate for EVA?
According to the Wikipedia article on the Sokol spacesuit,
The Sokol space suit (Russian: Cокол, Falcon) is a type of Russian space suit, worn by all who fly on the Soyuz spacecraft. It was ...
- 18k
15
votes
3
answers
3k
views
What is the minimum pressure human body can live in, with head protected?
One fundamental problem of spacesuits is stiffnes due to air pressure; at around 0.3atm, with atmosphere of pure oxygen, they grant enough oxygen for breathing, and more than enough pressure to ...
- 54.4k
15
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Why don't astronaut helmets fog up? What's the chemistry and thermodynamics behind keeping the field of view clear even during heavy breathing?
Some space walking involves exercise (e.g. moving heavy stuff around) and the outside surface of a faceplate is constantly radiating its heat out into space. At night that thermal radiation is not ...
- 149k
15
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Do American astronauts wear Sokol space suits when flying on a Soyuz?
The Wikipedia article on the Sokol space suit seems to suggest that all personel traveling on a Soyuz vehicle must wear a Russian made spacesuit:
Each Soyuz crew member is provided with a made-to-...
- 18k
14
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Nose-scratching Velcro in spacesuits: hook side or loop side?
This answer states
One of the more innovative uses of Velcro included putting a patch into EVA suits to assist in scratching the astronaut's nose.
Considering that Velcro has two different ...
- 47.6k