SPACE TRiVA

• Why wear a space suit?
  There is no atmospheric pressure and no oxygen in outer space to sustain life. Inside the spacecraft, the atmosphere can be controlled so that special clothing isn't needed, but when outside, humans need the protection of a space suit. Besides providing protection from bombardment by micrometeoroids, the space suit insulates the wearer from the temperature extremes of space.
  


• Why are space suits white in color?
  White reflects heat in space, the same as it does here on Earth. Temperatures in direct sunlight in space can be over 275 °Fahrenheit.
  


• Who is the prime NASA contractor for the design, development, and manufacture of space suits?
  ILC Dover, Inc.
  


• What does EMU stand for?
  Extravehicular mobility unit
  


• Describe the U.S. Navy Mark IV pressure suit.
  The Mark IV Pressure Suit is a forerunner of the space suit. It was originally developed for the crew of high-flying aircraft. It was made of aluminum-coated nylon and rubber garments.
  


• Which space suits were composed of one piece?
  Apollo space suits
  


• What were the goals of the Apollo mission?
  The Apollo Program spanned 5 years, from 1967 to 1972, and included 12 manned flights. Apollo’s goals went beyond landing Americans on the Moon and returning them safely to Earth. The goals included:
  To establish the technology to meet other national interests in space
  To achieve preeminence in space for the United States
  To develop man’s capability to work in the lunar environment
  


• Describe the Apollo space suit.
  The Apollo space suit was designed to allow astronauts to venture outside of the spacecraft. Apollo space suit mobility was improved over earlier suits by use of molded rubber joints at the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees. Modifications to the suit waist for Apollo 15 through 17 missions added flexibility making it easier for crewmen to sit on the lunar rover vehicle.
  From the skin out, the Apollo A7LB space suit began with an astronaut-worn liquid-cooling garment, similar to a pair of long johns with a network of spaghetti-like tubing sewn onto the fabric. Cool water, circulating through the tubing, transferred metabolic heat from the Moon explorer's body to the backpack and into space.
  Apollo space helmets were formed from high strength polycarbonate and were attached to the space suit by a pressure-sealing neck-ring. Unlike Mercury and Gemini helmets, which were closely fitted and moved with the crewman's head, the Apollo helmet was fixed, and the head was free to move within. While walking on the Moon, Apollo crewmen wore an outer visor assembly over the helmet to shield against eye damaging ultraviolet radiation and to maintain head and face thermal comfort.
  Completing the Moon explorer's ensemble were lunar gloves and boots, both designed for the rigors of exploring, and the gloves for adjusting sensitive instruments. The new Apollo space suit was the first to have its own life support system rather than being dependent on an umbilical connection to the spacecraft.
  


• What were the goals of the Gemini mission?
  The second U.S. manned space program was announced in January 1962. Its two-man crew gave it its name, Gemini, for the third constellation of the Zodiac and its twin stars, Castor and Pollux. Gemini involved 12 flights, including two unmanned flight tests of the equipment. Its major objectives were:
  To subject man and equipment to space flight up to 2 weeks in duration
  To rendezvous and dock with orbiting vehicles and to maneuver the docked combination by using the target vehicle's propulsion system
  To perfect methods of entering the atmosphere and landing at a preselected point on land
  


• Describe the Gemini space suit.
  The Gemini space suit used a combination bladder-link net construction in an effort to make the whole suit flexible when pressurized. Unlike the Mercury suit, pressurization was necessary for Gemini flights, because astronauts would be outside the spacecraft performing space walk. Improved arm and shoulder mobility also resulted from the multi-layer design of the Gemini suit.
  What were the goals of the Mercury mission?
  Initiated in 1958 and completed in 1963, Project Mercury was the United States' first man-in-space program. The objectives of the program, which made six manned flights from 1961 to 1963, were:
  To orbit a manned spacecraft around Earth
  To investigate man's ability to function in space
  To recover both man and spacecraft safely
  


• Describe the Mercury space suit.
  The Mercury space suit was a modified version of a U.S. Navy high-altitude jet aircraft pressure suit. It consisted of an inner layer of Neoprene-coated nylon fabric and a restraint outer layer of aluminized nylon. Joint mobility at the elbow and knees was provided by simple fabric break lines sewn into the suit; but even with these break lines, it was difficult for a pilot to bend his arms or legs against the force of a pressurized suit. As an elbow or knee joint was bent, the suit joints folded in on themselves reducing suit internal volume and increasing pressure.
  


• What are the goals of the International Space Station (ISS)?
  The ISS is an exciting gateway to new frontiers in human space exploration, meeting the deep-seated need of men and women throughout history to explore the unknown, to understand their world and the universe, and to apply that knowledge for the benefit of all here on Earth. The ISS is a unique world-class laboratory providing an international platform for advances in science and technology.
  Six main laboratories will house research facilities:
  Two U.S. laboratories—a laboratory module called “Destiny” and a Centrifuge Accommodations Module (CAM)
  One European Space Agency (ESA) laboratory named “Columbus”
  One Japanese Experiment Module named “Kibo”
  Two Russian Research Modules
  


• Describe the International Space Station space suit.
  Student answers will vary.
  


• How does the liquid-cooling and ventilation garment work?
  The Apollo space suit began with a garment that used water as a coolant. The garment is similar to long johns but laced with a network of thin plastic tubing. The tubing circulated cooling water around the astronaut to prevent overheating. A multi-layered pressure garment was worn on top of the cooling suit. The innermost layer of this garment was a comfort layer of lightweight nylon with fabric ventilation ducts. On top of this was a layer of neoprene-coated nylon surrounded by a nylon restraint layer. This layer contained the pressure inside the suit.
  


• What is the PLSS?
  PLSS stands for primary life support system. The PLSS consists of a backpack unit permanently mounted to the hard upper torso of the suit and a control-and-display unit mounted on the suit chest. The backpack unit supplies oxygen for breathing, suit pressurization, and ventilation. The unit also cools and circulates water used in the liquid cooling ventilation garment, controls ventilation gas temperature, absorbs carbon dioxide, and removes odors from the suit atmosphere. The secondary oxygen pack attaches to the bottom of the PLSS and supplies oxygen if the primary oxygen fails. The control-and-display unit allows the crew member to control and monitor the PLSS, the secondary oxygen pack, and, when attached, the manned maneuvering unit.
  


• How do astronauts use the bathroom while in a space suit?
  An adult-sized diaper with extra absorption material is used.
  


• What is the current life expectancy of a space suit? Space suits have a minimum 8-year life expectancy.
  


• Which space suit had a 25-foot oxygen line connected to the chest?
  Gemini space suit
  What significant changes have been made to space suits since the Apollo era?