The new spacesuits will be tested by the crew of the Polaris Dawn mission.
SpaceX showed what a non-professional astronaut will wear in outer space for the first time in history this year during the Polaris Dawn mission on the Dragon spacecraft into low-Earth orbit. The new suit has some special features and SpaceX claims that it is very functional, writes New Atlas.
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SpaceX already has spacesuits that astronauts use when traveling into space on the Dragon spacecraft. But these suits are designed for intravehicular activity (IVA). They must protect people in the event of a loss of cabin pressure. If this happens, the helmet visor will close, the suit will switch to emergency life support, and the astronaut will remain alive until the spacecraft returns to Earth.
SpaceX showed what a non-professional astronaut will wear in outer space for the first time in history this year during the Polaris Dawn mission
Photo: SpaceX
The problem is that that’s all the IVA suit can do. When pressed, it becomes a human-shaped balloon, and its owner can move with great difficulty. The fabric is also not very durable, the helmet’s windshield doesn’t withstand direct sunlight, and the entire suit isn’t designed to protect astronauts outside the ship.
With the first non-professional astronaut going into space this year on the private Polaris Dawn mission, SpaceX has created a new spacewalk (EVA) suit.
With the first non-professional astronaut going into space this year on the private Polaris Dawn mission, SpaceX has created a new spacewalk (EVA) suit.
Photo: SpaceX
The new suit is designed to have greater mobility at elevated pressures, be less vulnerable to damage, and to maintain a comfortable temperature for humans and protect them from micrometeorites. At the same time, the spacesuit allows you to move well.
According to SpaceX, the EVA suit is based on the current IVA model, which they plan to replace over time. It retains the basic elements, but can be used for people with different body types by changing its shape. To create the EVA suit, new materials, manufacturing processes and rotating joints were used to provide greater mobility.
The suit’s helmet is 3D-printed and has a new windshield coated with copper and indium oxides, so it can better withstand direct sunlight. The helmet contains a display and camera that provide real-time information about the pressure, temperature and relative humidity in the suit. The space suit itself has new temperature-regulating fabrics and fire-resistant materials.
The spacesuit’s helmet is 3D printed and features a new lift-up glass coated with copper and indium oxides
Photo: SpaceX
In a few months, 4 crew members of the Polaris Dawn mission will go into low-Earth orbit. At an altitude of 700 km, two of the four crew members will take part in a two-hour spacewalk. At this time, the spacesuits will be tested in real space conditions.
In a few months, 4 crew members of the Polaris Dawn mission will go into low-Earth orbit. At an altitude of 700 km, two of the four crew members will take part in a two-hour spacewalk. At this time, the spacesuits will be tested in real space conditions.
Photo: SpaceX
As I already wrote Focus, a rival of the Dragon ship, the Starliner spacecraft from Boeing, was about to go into space on its first crewed flight. But technical difficulties prevented the Atlas V rocket from flying. This historic launch is expected to take place in the near future. This flight is important not only for Boeing, but also for NASA. The fact is that the US space agency plans to use two different ships to deliver astronauts to the ISS, and not just the SpaceX ship.
