US Aerospace Agencyof (NASA), space suit how much does it cost? What are the features of these clothes? We sought answers to these questions for you. First off, let’s point out that NASA’s fleet of space suits has been the same since 1974, and the space agency is currently working on new suits.
In 1974, these space suits $15 million to $22 million had been declared. Since then, the agency has not revealed any new outfits ready for the mission. But it made improvements over existing outfits. Yet this led to NASA having a spacesuit crisis. Because now NASA four duty suits left.
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What is a spacesuit?
In the first part of the text, we stated that the US space agency is facing a major crisis. What NASA plans to do with female astronauts in March 2019 spacewalk It was also canceled due to clothing issues. Agency, only one of the two female astronauts had found a suitable (medium-size) suit.
So, why is spacesuit design so difficult? Because a spacesuit is actually like a spacecraft. astronaut from the vacuum of space, from the sun and other objects from radiation needs protection. In addition, this suit should prevent objects traveling at a speed of approximately 29,000 km in space from harming the astronaut. Besides all this oxygen, Contact, telemetry and should provide everything a person needs to survive.
With this, Business InsiderAccording to the news of 1974, Space Shuttle program for 18 clothing sets was developed. The first and second teams no longer exist. in 1986 Challenger and in 2003 Columbia In their disaster, two teams were destroyed. Last SpaceX-7Another spacesuit was lost in the cargo mission crash of . Seven of the remaining 11 outfits go through various renewal and maintenance processes. So just four ready-to-fly spacesuits exists.
NASA invests $200 million in Artemis spacesuit
NASA, Artemis For the month program xEMU outfit to develop from $200 million invested too much. Aside from these investments made by the agency since 2009, no new outfits have yet emerged. Moreover, the lack of clothing is not the only problem. Components used in clothing are also declining rapidly. For example, carbon dioxide sensors. Some components in existing garments are no longer manufactured. Even some of the vendors that produce these components no longer exist.
If it is one of the most expensive components of the spacesuit gloves. These gloves are designed to not prevent astronauts from working in space, but to protect their health. There is a pulley and rope system on the inside, while on the outside, it keeps the astronaut’s hands warm. heat radiators is located.
Apollo The gloves used by the astronauts in their missions were much less functional than those currently used. For example, astronauts could not grasp a stone on the ground with their hands. However, there is no such problem with the gloves developed by engineers at the moment.
life support system It is considered the most important component of space suits. The backpack attached to the back of the suit undertakes many important functions, from maintaining the temperature to removing carbon dioxide. This component is more expensive than gloves.
By the way, from time to time, there may be a design or production error in the clothes. For example, in 2013 the European Space Agency astronaut Luca ParmitanoHis helmet filled with water. About 1.5 liters of water nearly drowned Parmitano in the middle of his spacewalk.
A spacesuit costs $100 million today.
Returning to the main topic, a spacesuit in 1974. $15 million to $22 million current cost of $83 million to $122 million between. quartzAccording to , the cost of a spacesuit is approximately 1 billion dollars. However, given the fact that NASA is having difficulty finding funding for design and development, there is a risk that future missions will be delayed.
Briefly on the next generation spacesuits being developed xEMU called and astronauts to your safety is focusing. Also, an advanced to communication technology suits for different space missions interchangeable mechanisms will contain. However, the agency lacks the resources to cover the high cost of the xEMU spacesuit. That’s why NASA is trying to collaborate with private industries to develop the next generation of spacesuits.