NASA video shows their new spacesuits – CNET in Spanish

The Z2 prototype space suit reminds the film ‘Tron’.

NASA

The NASA released a video showing, for the first time in detail the appearance of the two prototypes of this week spacesuits being developed for future missions beyond Earth orbit. The most innovative is the model Z2-whose sketches were released in May 2014– it abandons the traditional white robes identifying astronauts from the Apollo missions in the 60 years of the twentieth century. The new proposal is decided by the gray color.

In addition, the Z2 model has a completely transparent helmet and wired electroluminescent in the suit, as if they were neon lights, which evokes the futuristic movies like Tron and Prometheus . In the video, David Graziosi, chief engineer of Space Systems department in charge of spacesuits for NASA, he said. “We had several artistic license with this prototype”

The Z2 model was voted by 233.431 space enthusiasts and fashionistas, who chose it as their favorite spacesuit in 2014. Since then, students of the school of engineering and design of the Philadelphia University worked on the technology of costume designers with NASA to complete the prototype that now the agency shown in a video.

The project is developing NASA deep space exploration, such as the plan to send a manned mission to Mars. Therefore, the US space agency is already working on designing future space suits, ideal to undertake extra-vehicular activities (EVA, for its acronym in English).

Indeed, the Z2 prototype is designed especially for that astronauts use it on a planet, while collecting samples, amounting hillside or down to the bottom of a crater. It is made of ultra light and strong, materials ability to withstand long-duration missions in extreme environments, such as Mars.

Comparison of the suit currently used (l.) With two prototypes (center and right)

NASA

The second prototype showing the video is the PXS ( Prototype Exploration Suit ), designed for microgravity environments such as repair work in space, outside the ship or a space station. The purpose of the PXS is to obtain a lighter suit, equipped with a technology that reduces the amount of equipment you should bring the astronaut with him when making repairs to the exterior of the International Space Station. In addition, NASA has planned that in future the components of the suit can be made with a 3D printer on board the ship or International Space Station.

The emphasis NASA is to improve mobility (they are now lighter outfits that facilitate the movement and articulation), visibility (helmets are larger and Mays transparent surface ) and communication.

Michelle Stein, head of the NASA space suits keep the pressure manager, explains in the video is not only clothes they have to operate in a vacuum, but they must also protect the astronaut from extreme temperatures – “can be very hot or very cold” – and drifting objects that could pierce. More safety design: a combination that seems drawn from science fiction but NASA is certainly applying the look of its astronauts of the future

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