7.9B: Accommodations for Space Explorations
Earth and Space
The Space Suit
Lexile 950L
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Imagine floating in by the inky blackness
of space. You float weightlessly through
the vast emptiness of the universe. You
look down and see the magnificent blue
planet that we call home. You watch
swirling white clouds move over the
green and brown land masses on Earth.
This may seem like fun, but space can be
dangerous or even deadly. Earth
provides us with gravity to hold us in
place. The atmosphere provides us with
air to breathe and protection from the
harmful ultraviolet rays of the Sun. An astronaut must be very cautious when
leaving the protection of Earth and entering the airless vacuum of space.
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Outside of Earth’s atmosphere, an unprotected astronaut would die almost
instantly. The ultraviolet rays from the Sun are so strong that they would cause
severe skin damage in a matter of seconds. In the vacuum of space, the
astronaut would be gasping for a breath. Gases would leave the blood due to
the lack of air pressure. The astronaut would be hit by micrometeoroids, tiny
particles of dust or rock moving at high speeds. How could an astronaut ever
work safely in space with all of these dangerous conditions? The answer is
more complex than it seems. Scientists have developed a space suit for the
astronauts to wear while working in space that mimics the conditions on Earth.
It provides protection from harmful UV rays and flying debris. This space suit
allows them to move around in space safely and easily.
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7.9B: Accommodations for Space Explorations
Earth and Space
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The space suit maintains an air pressure like that on Earth. This keeps the
astronaut’s blood liquid. Imagine that this space suit is a balloon which will
protect the astronaut while they are out in space. A space suit also provides the
astronaut with air to breathe. The space suit gets its supply of oxygen either
through an umbilical cord from the space craft or from a backpack life support
system that the astronaut wears. The space suit is layered with fabrics like
Neoprene, Gore-Tex, and Dacron to protect the astronaut from the extreme
temperatures in space. The outer layer of the space suit must be able to
perform three functions. It must reflect the Sun’s light and protect against
harmful radiation. It must also be tough enough to protect the astronaut from
micrometeoroids. This outer layer is made of a reflective layer like Mylar or
white fabric. Those shiny helium balloons are made of Mylar.
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The helmet on the space suit must be made of a tough plastic. The plastic must
be tinted to protect an astronaut’s eyes from the blinding light of the Sun. The
tint can not be too dark though, or the astronaut would not be able to see well
enough to do their work. An astronaut’s helmet also has a microphone and
earphones. This allows them to communicate with the spacecraft, other
astronauts, or a team from Earth.
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When an astronaut has to leave the spacecraft to repair equipment, there must
to be footholds or straps for them to hold onto. Otherwise, they are in danger of
floating off into space. Sometimes an astronaut will wear a backpack called a
Manned Maneuvering Unit. This unit allows the astronaut to float in space
without using footholds or straps. It has rockets that propel the astronaut
through space. They control its movement with a joystick like the ones used to
play video games.
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The space suit is an astronaut’s life support when out in space away from the
space craft. It provides protection not only from the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet
rays and radiation, but also from micrometeoroids. The space suit allows the
astronaut to breathe by providing oxygen and an air pressure like that on Earth.
It allows movement in space even without the help of gravity. Without the
space suit, spacewalks would not be possible.
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7.9B: Accommodations for Space Explorations
Earth and Space
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A
a small rock that burns up when
it enters Earth’s atmosphere.
B
a collection of small particles of
dust or rock moving at high
speeds through space.
C
a collection of small particles of
dust or rock moving at slow
speeds through space.
D
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3
A micrometeoroid is —
B
C
D
A
regulates the astronaut’s body
temperature.
B
allows the astronaut to be
visible to the spacecraft as
he/she goes on spacewalks.
C
protects against the harmful
radiation from the Sun and
against micrometeoroids.
D
allows the astronaut to
communicate with the
spacecraft, other astronauts, or
a team from Earth.
a small rock that hits the space
craft making it hard to steer.
Conditions in space are dangerous
and deadly because —
A
The outer Mylar or white fabric layer
of a space suit —
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not many astronauts have been
to space and therefore do not
really know what it is like.
there is no air to breathe, no air
pressure to maintain liquid body
fluids, and without gravity
astronauts would float away.
space is similar to Earth but
without water and air.
space is too far away to travel.
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An astronaut can keep from floating
away in space by —
A
weighing down with something
heavy.
B
making body movements similar
to that of a swimmer.
C
using footholds or straps to the
spacecraft or equipment, or by
using a Manned Maneuvering
Unit to propel through space.
D
making a continuous running
motion like he/she is jogging in
place.
7.9B: Accommodations for Space Explorations
Earth and Space
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An astronaut’s helmet is made of —
A
Dacron and Neoprene.
B
stainless steel.
C
tough tinted plastic.
D
Gore-Tex and aluminum.
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