Clothes for Outer Space
by Diane Bailey
Outer space has a strict dress code. Because space holds
dangers that people do not face on Earth, astronauts must wear
clothing that will protect them while they do their jobs. Space suit
designers have to think about many things, such as the risk
space travelers face when they explore outside of their
spacecraft. Sharp rocks could rip their suits. Dust might block
their vision or get inside their suits. Small particles flying through
space could hit them. Space suits must protect astronauts from
dangers like these.
How a Space Suit Works
The inside of a space suit is like a mini-spacecraft for the
body! It creates an environment that a person can live in. There
is no gravity or air pressure in space, so space suits must create
pressure. Without this pressure, fluids in the body would "boil"
and release gas, which could kill a person. Too much pressure,
however, makes the material in a space suit stiff. This makes it
hard for astronauts to move their arms, legs, and fingers. They
get tired much faster. Space suits provide some air pressure for
astronauts, but it is less pressure than on Earth.
Space suits must also provide oxygen for astronauts to
breathe when they go on a spacewalk. Because of the lower air
pressure, astronauts cannot breathe the air. Instead, they have
to breathe pure oxygen. The body is not used to this. Therefore,
astronauts must breathe pure oxygen in their space suits for
several hours before going outside. Then, oxygen is piped in from
a backpack that astronauts carry. A system in the suit cleans out
the carbon dioxide that astronauts exhale.
Temperature is another problem for astronauts. On the moon,
the temperature can reach 250ºF or drop as low as -150ºF. A
space suit is designed to keep the astronaut's body at the right
temperature. This is why space suits that are worn outside a
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spacecraft are usually white. The light color reflects sunlight. It
also makes the suit easy to see against the blackness of space.
Astronauts have jobs to do outside of their spacecrafts. Their
space suits must allow them to do these jobs. Sometimes they
need to set up equipment or make repairs. Other times, they are
busy collecting samples of rocks and soil for scientists to study.
They must be able to bend, squat, and climb. They have to be
able to pick up objects and use tools. Sometimes they travel far
away from their spacecrafts in vehicles called rovers. If the rover
breaks down, astronauts might have to walk back to the
spacecraft. For these reasons, space suits cannot be too bulky.
Other features of space suits can help astronauts do their jobs. A
radio built in to the suit lets astronauts talk to people inside the
spacecraft. A camera lets them take pictures. The control panel
for these things is located on the chest of the space suit. And,
just in case astronauts forget what they are supposed to do, they
keep a "to-do" list on their wrists.
Space suits have several parts. Some pieces fit over the
chest, arms, and legs. There are also special gloves and boots. A
high-tech helmet tops it off. Some space suits are put on like
regular clothes, with pants on the bottom and a jacket on top.
A space suit is made of several different layers. Each layer has
a specific job. Astronauts can get hot while they are working, so
one layer has water in it to cool the astronauts down. The next
layer of the suit provides pressure. Other layers insulate the
astronaut from heat and cold. The outer layers provide a tough
shell. Space suits are heavy. A fully loaded suit can weigh more
than 250 pounds when on Earth. Because astronauts are working
in places with low gravity, however, the suit feels much lighter.
The History and Future of Space Suits
Space suits have changed over the years. The first American
astronauts did not leave their spacecrafts. The space suits were
designed to go into high altitudes where the air pressure is lower.
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If the inside of the spacecraft lost pressure, the suit would inflate
and make its own pressure. These early spacesuits were
sometimes called soft suits. When astronauts began leaving their
spacecrafts, they had to start using hard space suits that were
bigger and stronger. When astronauts began staying outside for
long periods, space suit designers included some comforts in the
suits. They added heated gloves to keep astronauts' hands warm.
Suits also included water bottles in case the astronauts got thirsty
and energy bars if they got hungry.
The first space suits were made to fit the individual astronaut.
John Glenn was the first American to orbit Earth. His suit was
made the way he wanted it. He had battery-powered lights in the
fingers of his gloves. He even told space suit designers where he
wanted pockets. Custom-made suits also had problems. If an
astronaut gained weight, the suit would not fit anymore. It was
expensive to make a new one! Now, many space suits are made
with interchangeable pieces. They come in different sizes and can
be mixed and matched.
In today's suits, special balloons inflate to create pressure. In
the future, space suits might work differently. Scientists are
working on skin-tight suits that would gently squeeze the body to
create pressure. These suits would be lighter and less bulky, so
astronauts could move around more easily. Also, if the suit got
torn, it would not lose pressure all over. The rip could be patched
with a bandage. Another idea to improve space suits is a new
kind of joint that would connect the helmet to the rest of the suit.
This would let astronauts turn their heads to look over their
shoulders. Suits could also use higher pressures. That way,
astronauts would not have to spend time breathing in pure
oxygen. They could then get dressed faster, which would be
helpful if there was an emergency outside.
There are many places to explore in space. Astronauts might
travel to asteroids, Mars, or even farther. Scientists hope to make
suits that can take on all the challenges of outer space.
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END OF TEXT
"Clothes for Outer Space" by Diane Bailey, copyright 2012 by The University of Kansas.
Bibliography:
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Scientific American, 17 July 2009. Web. 27 March 2013.
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March 2013.
Newman, Dava. "Building the Future Spacesuit." NASA.gov. NASA, 9 July 2012. Web. 27
March 2013.
Price, Mark J. "First Astronauts' Spacesuits Were a Marvel in Their Day." Phys.org. 20 Feb.
2012. Web. 17 March 2013.
"The Space Suit." FI.edu. The Franklin Institute. Web. 27 March 2013.
"Spacesuits and Spacewalks." NASA.gov. NASA, 13 Nov. 2008. Web. 27 March 2013.
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