Some of our readers have probably heard about the CST-100 Starliner capsule that Boeing and Bigelow Aerospace are developing for NASA. The goal is for the vehicle to carry astronauts to the International Space Station before the end of 2018, but beyond the capsule itself, there's also a new spacesuit design that has caught our attention. Comparisons to the suits from 2001: A Space Odyssey are inevitable, but that doesn't change the fact that we're looking at major improvements in mobility.
The last time I talked about a spacesuit was a little over a year ago, when we explored the NDX-1, its general properties, and its potential to reach Mars. The concept of a universal spacesuit is popular in science fiction, but in real life suits still have to adapt to the mission type. After all, there are very important differences between traversing the Martian surface, jumping on lunar soil, and traveling to space stations. That last point brings us to the territory of Boeing and Bigelow Aerospace, who continue their work on the CST-100 Starliner. Tests will begin in 2018, and if everything goes well, it will carry its first astronauts to the International Space Station that same year. Travelers will have a new variant of spacesuit at their disposal... and I must admit it looks great.
A Suit Built for Comfort and Safety
According to the official announcement, the suit combines elements drawn from classic designs with the latest advances in materials and joint patterns. Both the helmet and visor are integrated into the suit, the gloves are compatible with touchscreens, and its special material allows water vapor to leave the interior without losing air. Additional materials at the elbows and knees optimize astronaut movement, along with several closures that adapt the suit's shape when sitting or standing. Technically, the suit serves as one more redundancy for the capsule's life support system, but in an emergency it can be pressurized in a matter of seconds.
The total weight of the suit with all its accessories is about nine kilograms, which is notable given that spacesuits used by astronauts on Space Shuttle missions weighed nearly fifteen kilograms. Astronaut Eric Boe sums up the suit's usefulness perfectly: "It's lighter, simpler (in a complex system there are more things that can go wrong), and above all, it will keep its wearer alive."
