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Author
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Topic: Spacesuit testing
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Philip
Member Posts: 4495
From: Brussels, BELGIUM
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted November 03, 2006 12:58 PM
   
The real thing? Space Systems Laboratory: MARS Suit Photos |
Frewi80
Member Posts: 103
From: Hawaii. Waipahu
Registered: Jun 2006
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posted November 04, 2006 02:06 AM
Are there more Mars suits prototypes? 'The real thing' seems to be quite heavy. |
AstronautBrian
Member Posts: 231
From: Madisonville, Louisiana, U.S.A.
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted November 04, 2006 02:37 AM
Hmmmm... when did Maryland get its own space program?  ------------------
"I am sui generis; just leave it at that." - Huey P. Long |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 1916
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted November 04, 2006 08:14 AM
 These are photos I took of a prototype "Mars suit" in Crew Systems Division, Johnson Space Center in October 1995. There are marked similarities between this suit at the Maryland example. Regards, Rick |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 23493
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted November 04, 2006 09:23 AM
The suit pictured, the MX-2, is not a prototype Mars suit. MARS is meant as an acronym: Maryland Advanced Research/Simulation (MARS). The MX-2 was designed as a "low-cost test bed for extravehicular activity research." It is not a NASA project; it is an initiative started by the University of Maryland's Space Systems Laboratory, which houses the only neutral buoyancy facility located on a college campus. More information about the suit can be found on its website. There are no NASA-sanctioned Mars suits in current development. No hardware prototypes exist for a new Moon suit, either. The requirements for a lunar EMU are being finalized now and a request to contractors should be released in the coming months. In addition to the usual suspects (e.g. ILC, Hamilton) it is expected that several other aerospace companies will compete for the Orion spacesuit. For current exploration simulations, such as Desert RATS, NASA uses earlier prototypes from the 1990s. The Mark III suit (also here) is often used, though ILC Dover's I-Suit has also been used. |
Philip
Member Posts: 4495
From: Brussels, BELGIUM
Registered: Jan 2001
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posted November 07, 2006 03:39 PM
Another space suit test: NDSGC Space Suit Project
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Matt T
Member Posts: 1313
From: Chester, Cheshire, UK
Registered: May 2001
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posted December 12, 2006 07:50 AM
A really good look at the I-Suit. (And off-topic but fascinating for an Apollo suit freak like myself) - One of Alan Bean's Skylab suits in use during a 2003 simulation, photos and film on this link. 30+ years old and still in service  Cheers,
Matt ------------------
www.spaceracemuseum.com |
carmelo
Member Posts: 749
From: Messina, Sicilia, Italia
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted December 14, 2006 03:09 PM
But spacesuit for Orion will be a IEVA (intra-extra vehicular) like G4C Gemini and A7L and A7LB Apollo suits, or will be the current orange ACES suit worn on the Shuttle? Orion have not an airlock, and for contingency EVA will have be depressurized the cabin. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 23493
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted December 14, 2006 03:35 PM
Not exactly any of the above, though closer to the Apollo approach. The Orion spacesuit will have different versions for different missions, but will share the same base configuration. Components will be added (either before or during flight) depending on the destination (e.g. ISS, the Moon). There will not be a separate launch and entry spacesuit (i.e. ACES). |
carmelo
Member Posts: 749
From: Messina, Sicilia, Italia
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted December 14, 2006 09:43 PM
A modular approach. But with suits with EVA capability. I think that the color will be white. |
Spacewalker
Member Posts: 16
From: Lecco - Italy
Registered: Jan 2006
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posted December 27, 2006 11:55 AM
If it will be a modular approach, I think that the spacesuit will be prepared before the flight, during the flight will be performed only the final components check of the or emergency replacement. But the ACES suit will be retired? |
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