The Evolution of Space Suit Design

William_Lee writes "According to space.com, it looks like we may finally be on the verge of seeing a long overdue, radical redesign of space suits that will result in much lighter, more maneuverable, custom fitted suits. Now if we can actually get around to sending someone to Mars..."

Do they come with darth vader sounds?

[poographer]

I am not your father's space suit.

Slice and dice

[LiquidCoooled]

. It is custom fitted to each astronaut using a laser scanning/electrospinlacing process.

Do not look into the sun with your remaining eye.

We aren't going to send humans to Mars any time

[Anonymous Coward]

soon, but we shouldn't let that get in the way of fashion. I say we should make a rover catwalk.
Yeah baby, shake that spectrometer, OWWW!
I apologize profusely.

These pictures get worse and worse.

[LiquidCoooled]

http://www.space.com/php/multimedia/imagedisplay/i mg_display.php?pic=h_astronaut_djn_02.jpg&cap=Futu re+space+explorers+may+apply+a+%93spray-on%94+seco nd+skin%2C+an+organic%2C+biodegradable+layer+offer ing+protection+in+extremely+dusty+planetary+enviro nments.+Incorporated+into+the+second+skin+will+be+ electrically+actuated+artificial+muscle+fibers+to+ enhance+human+strength+and+stamina.+Artwork%3A+Cam +Brensiger [space.com]

Looks more like space flight will include playboy subscriptions.

These images are just asking for trouble.
They are just like the aircraft safety pictures that did the rounds a while back.

Someone has to say it...

[bwcarty]

Do you like your quasi-futuristic clothes Mr. Powers? I designed them myself.

Fix problems first.

[Bite-lover]

A redesigned suit? How about before they do that they come and fix my toaster. It's been shooting toast at me for years because NASA reprogrammed it for 'defense from hungry aliens' If they can't fix my damn toaster, what makes them think a redesign will help?

"Suits you well"

[Tablizer]

Tight-fitting suits may mean that astronauts are more likely to get turned on, resulting in all kinds of mayham and soap operas. Space can get lonely. Maybe the baggy look is better afterall.

I can see it now...

[rob_squared]

...the first medical accident when someone thinks this stuff is aerosol cheese.

Re:These pictures get worse and worse.

[dakara]

Someone should tell space.com that encoding the whole article in the url is not the way to do things :-)

Re:Mission To Mars

[drivinghighway61]

Yes, with Lord Bush's leadership, we can finally bring Democracy(c) to Mars!

Re:These pictures get worse and worse.

[ikkonoishi]

... [space.com]

shudder [space.com]

Who the heck the designed that page?

Warning!

[EdwinBoyd]

This article contains material on spacesuit evolution. Evolution is a theory, not a fact, regarding the origin of spacesuits. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully and critically considered.

One problem...

[jemenake]

Is it just me... or do the old suits look freakin' cool and the new ones look totally gay?

The old ones look functional, with color-coded hose hook-ups and all... like a deep-sea diver... a deep-space diver, if you will.

These new ones... jeez... you can tell if the guy's circumcised or not! Seeing as how an astronaut is probably more likely to encounter an alien being than the rest of us land-lubbers, I'd be very concerned if the first human the martians meet is dressed like a metrosexual.

EVAs

[timlee]

"I think the most critical element for success will be the early creation of an effective, modular EVA system architecture"

*Yawn*

Let me know when they start developing Gundams.

Ironic?

[notany]

When somebody is talking so high on Bush it seems it's ment to be ironic. But I'm not sure on this one.

Re:Mission To Mars

[PacoTaco]

I think the President has done a fantastic job in revitalizing our space program and command him for his decisive leadership and strong character.

When did George Bush start posting to Slashdot?

Power Rangers

[Ced_Ex]

Ahhh yes... we're one step closer to getting Power Ranger suits. Then we all have to learn to talk and nod our heads at the same time.

Re:Now all we need ...

[Bob of Dole]

With cufflinks.

Re:Mission To Mars

[Rei]

it clear we aren't going anywhere other than perhaps Iran or some other third-world country

Hmmmm.....

Iran:
(image) [pierphoto.free.fr]

Mars:
(image) [lyle.org]

I sense a conspiracy in the making...

Re:These pictures get worse and worse.

[kiore]

Especially as an unscrupulous person could do this: http://www.space.com/php/multimedia/imagedisplay/i mg_display.php?pic=h_astronaut_djn_02.jpg&cap=The+ glove+is+sensititive+enough+to+permit+kinky+sexual +activities.+Once+completed+the+soiled+glove+can+b e+easily+removed+for+hygenic+disposal.+Artwork%3A+ Cam+Brensiger [space.com]

Re:"Suits you well"

[Rei]

No, you've got it all wrong. Skin-tight high-tech suits drastically increase the odds that we'll see preteens enagage in armed combat inside giant robots [clara.net] blasphemously created from heavenly beings, leading to a really cryptic apolcalypse, any day now.

Re:Mission To Mars

[ewhac]

Thanks, Mr. Williams. Condi will be by later with your check.

Re:Warning!

[IronicCheese]

HEY! I'm a believer in Intelligent Design of Spacesuits, you insensitive clod!

Re:About time..

[Dausha]

"And when you ice dive, you suit-up a long way from the hole, to which you have to walk with the gear on, and when you wear it all around you and on your back"

Or, you could lay on your back and let somebody push you to the hole. After all, it is ice . . . :-)

Re:More Photos

[Uplore]

http://www.batkhela.com/msn/power-rangers-display- pictures.shtml [batkhela.com]Oops I meant this.

Advertise Mars

[MaGGuN]

I think we should start advertising on going to mars. Ads everywhere, "Mars is great", "Lets explore Mars" etc. etc. Maybe Slashdot can have a vote and put up an ad if the audience says yay.

Re:Radiation protection

[Rude Turnip]

"...for example astronauts cease all EVA activity and go to the most heavily shielded area..."

With the new dummy plug technology coming along nicely, this should hopefully be a thing of the past.

Re:Slice and dice

[flyingsquid]

Spray on suits?!?! We are just begging for horrible things to happen to these people by pressing clothes to the limits of physics

If by "horrible", you mean "life threatening", then I don't know about that. But if by "horrible" you mean, "the utter agony upon removal of the suit when every single hair on your body is ripped out one by one", then yes, I agree completely.

Re:Ventilated Space Suit

[Anonymous Coward]

Another problem with them is getting them on and off. It would be like putting super tight pantyhose over your whole body. (not that I know anything about that)

You should try putting some on. They're really very comfortable.