NASA Asks: Which Spacesuit Prototype Do You Prefer? Vote On Your Favorite

universetoday.com ^ | March 25, 2014 | Elizabeth Howell on

[BenLurkin]

If you ever wanted to participate in spacesuit design, even in a small way, here’s your big chance. NASA is asking the public to choose which design of the futuristic Z-2 “planetary mobility” suit prototype will be used by astronauts while evaluating how well the spacesuit works.

There are three options (which you can see above), and NASA promises the winning design will be used in pool training at NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, the Johnson Space Center “rockyard” to simulate Mars exploration, and in vacuum tests. Outer space is not an option because of “micrometeorite, thermal and radiation protection” considerations, however.

[BenLurkin]

Uh.....

[Azeem]

Don’t we need to have a space program first? Catching rides with the Russians is pretty sad.

[Dallas59]

Not the one with the Islamic or Russian flag...Maybe one that actually will go into space?

[Cyber Liberty]

This is stupid. Who cares what “the people” want? This is for the engineers and astronauts to decide. Right as soon as we have a manned space program again.

[servo1969]

I’d prefer one that we carry into space on our own rocket.

[skinkinthegrass]

umm..one that works!
..it's not a fashion contest, is it?

[Clarence]

It really doesn’t matter what any of us think or prefer, rather it should be what the space agency and scientists decide.

Sheesh, science by “consensus” again??

[BenLurkin]

Your "choices":

[KeyLargo]

As long as the suit has the approved Putin patch since the Russians now charge $71 million dollars to the U.S. per seat on their rockets.

[cripplecreek]

Maybe the one that does the best job of keeping the astronaut alive should be chosen.

[KeyLargo]

How Russia could strangle the US space program
Global Post.com ^ | Mar 25, 2014 | Jean MacKenzie

Posted on Tuesday, March 25, 2014 4:36:15 PM by KeyLargo

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3137267/posts

[GeronL]

Bump

[Billthedrill]

I like this one, myself. It's also the only one that comes with its own barbecue lighter.

[JimSEA]

I guess it’s just for pool training. If I were going somewhere requiring a space suit I’d like the one that worked the best regardless of its popularity. But, it doesn’t look likely this country is going to space again except with robots.

[Lx]

I think I’ll pick the one with the highest mortality rate.

[Dr. Bogus Pachysandra]

I wanna self-contained force field, so I can stroll around in my PJs.

[Paladin2]

I prefer the Burka suit.

[Ray76]

Definitely not the aqua stripped “technology” one.

[PGR88]

NASA Asks: Which Spacesuit Prototype Do You Prefer? Vote On Your Favorite,

Whichever one makes gays and muslims feel more proud of their accomplishments, and is manufactured by a firm with women or minority ownership.

[lepton]

Are there any non-cosmetic differences? Doesn’t look that way to me.