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.

[Secret Agent Man]

how about one that doesn’t make one look like a manatee trying to impersonate tron?

[hoagy62]

I’m sorry...I can’t stop laughing.

[JoeProBono]

[Delta Dawn]

I’m confused, where is the turban supposed to go?

[publius911]

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

Speaking of which, no one else seems to have noticed... NASA is hopelessly useless and incompetent. Without Russia, the US HAS NO SPACE PROGRAM!

Odumbo is "punishing" Russia for the Crimea thing?
"Bad Boy, Bad Boy, Whatchagonna do...?

Ha ha?

[BenLurkin]

http://www.johnspeedie.com/healy/Uh_Yeah.mp3

[BenLurkin]

[BenLurkin]

“Details” here: http://jscfeatures.jsc.nasa.gov/z2/

[BenLurkin]

http://www.johnspeedie.com/healy/Ooo-eee.wav

[NYTexan]

That gal packs quite a package!

Must be her accessory belt...of sorts

[Paladin2]

Baby!

[Paladin2]

Yah!, baby....

[BenLurkin]

I say go with some kind of camo:

or just plain safety orange:

[SunkenCiv]

:’)

[Jack Hammer]

Not bad, but a little too much coverage, IMO.

[hattend]

What’s wrong with the current suits?

[BenLurkin]

If I understand correctly, the current suits are specifically tailored for each astronaut. Especially the gloves. They also take a long time to get in and out of

If I understand correctly, these suits are intended for use outside of habitats (say on moon or mars) and are supposed to interchangeable and easier to get on and off. Hence the “manatee” look.

Not sure what they intend to do about the gloves.