NASA’s getting ready to return to the moon, and wants its astronauts to look the business when they get there. The answer? Natty new togs for strutting across the lunar landscape.
There’s a serious side to the new suits too. Costing $745 million, they’re not cheap, but will be more suited to walking than current models.
See, they’ll be customisable. One configuration will be perfect for launch and landing, conducting spacewalks, and clambering ‘round the outside of spacecraft in zero-gravity, while the same suit can be made suitable for strolling around on the moon’s surface, just by removing certain components and replacing them with lighter ones.
The suits will also be tougher than current models, able to cope with multiple spacewalks or moonwalks, and lasting around six months without requiring serious maintenance.
It’s important that the suits can perform in different environments, as NASA’s current suits were designed to float in space, not cope with rocky terrain or allow easy movement such as bending down to collect dust samples.
It’s expected the suits will be ready for voyages in 2015, when the new Orion spaceship will replace the ageing space shuttle fleet.
Out 2015 | $745 million | NASA (via New Scientist)
