blog / From Apollo to Artemis: NASA's Journey to the Next Generation of Spacesuits
From Apollo to Artemis: NASA's Journey to the Next Generation of Spacesuits
Shamik Sinha
B.Tech.
As we marvel at cutting-edge technologies like the Space Launch System (SLS), Orion spacecraft, Lunar Gateway space station, and commercial Human Landing Systems which will allow humans to once again walk the surface of the moon, it's crucial that we don't overlook a critical component of the mission that often goes unnoticed: the space-suits.
Spacesuits are much more than a set of clothes astronauts wear. However, like a set of clothes, different suits serve different purposes. Space exploration usually includes two different kinds of spacesuits, both of which protect astronauts from the dangers of their mission. One is worn inside a spacecraft during launch and ascent to space, and again on the way home during re-entry into Earth's atmosphere and landing. The other kind is designed specifically for spacewalks. NASA calls a spacewalk an Extra-Vehicular Activity or EVA, so this type of suit is often called an EVA suit.
The type of spacesuit designed explicitly for spacewalks and worn by astronauts outside the International Space Station is known as the extravehicular mobility unit (EMU). This suit functions as a miniature spacecraft that resembles a human body and is crucial in protecting astronauts from various dangers they may face during a spacewalk, such as extreme temperatures, radiation, dust, and debris. It is equipped to regulate pressure, and offer the astronaut oxygen to breathe and water to drink, among other essential features.
It is worth noting that the current spacesuits utilised on the International Space Station (ISS) were initially designed for the Apollo astronauts in the 1970s. Due to budget constraints, NASA has had to continuously repair, maintain, and modify these same suits over the years. This led to several problems for the astronauts.
In May of 2022, NASA suspended all but the most urgent spacewalks after water was found in an astronaut's helmet following an excursion in March. This was the second such incident where NASA had to suspend all spacewalks due to unexpected water leakage, the last time being in July 2013. The organisation had begun to notice a degradation in performance along with the need to replace critical components of the suits.
However, these are only some of the many problems which need to be addressed; Inventory and mobility issues also seem to be a problem. A 2019 spacewalk, which would have been the first all-female spacewalk, had to be cancelled due to the unavailability of proper space suit sizes for all the female astronauts.
It had become clear that the spacesuits in use had reached the end of their operational lifespan, and it was urgently necessary to develop new suits. This need was further driven by NASA's upcoming Artemis mission, which aimed to land astronauts on the moon's surface for the first time in almost fifty years.
In December 2022, NASA placed a contract with Collins Aerospace to deliver a spacewalking system for potential use outside the ISS and another with Axiom Space which was awarded an initial task order award for Artemis suits. The new suits will support continued station maintenance and operations at ISS and will be crucial to future Artemis missions.
Collins Aerospace, which has previously designed suits for the Apollo era, has showcased its new suits to the public, unlike Axiom Space. The new suits are significantly lighter than the current ones and feature helmets that provide improved visibility and protection against the sun's radiation and glare. Additionally, the upper torso is adjustable, allowing on-orbit adjustments to prevent shoulder injuries and make EVAs more comfortable. The upper arm also offers a broader range of motion and other benefits, which the older suits failed to provide.
According to the company, the current EMUs only fit astronauts who fall within the fifth to ninety-fifth percentile. The new suits would be able to fit astronauts in the first to ninety-ninth percentile with fewer parts. This in turn means 30% less hardware will have to be launched into space, lowering the launch cost and reducing the crew training time. This is especially important considering the fact that NASA’s initial plan to land humans on the lunar surface by 2024 had to be delayed by two years until 2026 due to unexpected setbacks in developing new suits because of the lockdowns in 2020 and 2021 along with numerous other minor issues in the development process. Axiom and Collins Aerospace are expected to deliver their final suit designs by 2025 and 2026 respectively.
NASA is also exploring partnerships with entities beyond commercial companies to collaborate on advanced technologies for producing spacesuits. Recently, they granted $750,000 to the Space Flight Laboratory at the University of North Dakota to create a novel prototype of a 3D-printed spacesuit intended for use on Mars and other planets. The primary objective is to enable humans to establish a base on Mars in the future and have the capacity to locally manufacture spacesuit components if any are damaged and require replacement, rather than relying on Earth for new supplies, which would take more than a year to arrive.
To conclude this blog i would like say humans have an innate desire to explore and solve problems, and this drive has led to some of the most significant achievements in history. From discovering new lands to inventing innovative technologies, humans have continually pushed the boundaries of what is possible. Space exploration is no exception, and the development of spacesuits is a testament to our desire to overcome challenges and explore new frontiers. These suits play a vital role in ensuring the safety and success of astronauts during spacewalks and are a critical component of NASA's efforts to return to the Moon and prepare for future missions to Mars. As we continue to explore the unknown, we can take pride in our ability to innovate and solve problems, making the impossible possible.
Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oXAsvg_ZZzk
How We Are Going to the Moon - 4K
https://www.nasa.gov/feature/spacewalk-spacesuit-basics
https://www.upi.com/Science_News/2022/10/12/spacesuits-NASA-Axiom/1461665494349/