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Project Mercury cont.
Grimwood, J. M. (n.d.). The Evolution of the Space Suit. About.com Space / Astronomy. Retrieved October 4, 2012, from http://space.about.com/od/spaceexplorationtools/tp/spacesuitevolution.htm -
Project Mercury
It was the same design of earlier pressurized flight suits used in high altitude aircraft. NASA added Mylar, a material that gives the suit strength and the ability to withstand extreme tmeperatures. The suit was only worn unpressurized and was used only if the spacecraft cabin lost pressure. Greene, N. (2012). The Evolution of the Space Suit. About.com Space / Astronomy. Retrieved October 3, 2012, from http://space.about.com/od/spaceexplorationtools/tp/spacesuitevolution.htm -
Period: to
Evolution of the Spacesuit
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Project Gemini
The Mercury spacesuit was found to be difficult to move around in. The Gemini suit was made to be flexible when pressurized. Astronauts learned that using air to cool thier Gemini suits did not work. They were often overheated, exhausted, and thier helmets would fog up. Greene, N. (2012). The Evolution of the Space Suit. About.com Space / Astronomy. Retrieved October 3, 2012, from http://space.about.com/od/spaceexplorationtools/tp/spacesuitevolution.htm -
Project Apollo
NASA new that with the new mission would involve people walking on the moon. These spacesuits were no longer air-cooled. The new nylon undergarment allowed the body to be cooled with water. Additional layers of fabric were added for better pressurization and heat protection. Greene, N. (2012). The Evolution of the Space Suit. About.com Space / Astronomy. Retrieved October 3, 2012, from http://space.about.com/od/spaceexplorationtools/tp/spacesuitevolution.htm -
Space Shuttle Suit cont.
Advanced Crew Escape Suit. (2012, September 18). Wikipedia. Retrieved October 4, 2012, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Crew_Escape_Suit -
Space Shuttle Suit
It was first worn on April 12, 1981. It is an ejection space suit. It was modified from a US Air Force high-altitude pressure suit. It is more commonly called an Advance Crew Escape Suit. The high pressure suit began to be worn after STS-65. Greene, N. (2012). The Evolution of the Space Suit. About.com Space / Astronomy. Retrieved October 3, 2012, from http://space.about.com/od/spaceexplorationtools/tp/spacesuitevolution.htm -
Floating Free
A jetpack-like device called the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) helped Bruce McCandless float in space in February 1984. An MMU is a backback propulsion device. It enables astronauts to move around space without being anchored to the shuttle. Astronauts now wear a similar backpack device in case of emergency. Greene, N. (2012). The Evolution of the Space Suit. About.com Space / Astronomy. Retrieved October 3, 2012, from http://space.about.com/od/spaceexplorationtools/tp/spacesuitevolution.htm -
Floating Free cont.
NASA Johnson Space Center. (n.d.). Manned Maneuvering Unit. - Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Retrieved October 4, 2012, from http://airandspace.si.edu/collections/artifact.cfm?id=A20010176000 -
The Future
Engineers are currently working on a new spacesuit for the Constellation program. It will have two suits used for different tasks. The orange suit will be used for launch, landing, and emergencies. The white suit will be used during moonwalks for lunar exploration. NASA is currently working on the spacecraft and systems to return to space in 2020. Greene, N. (2012). The Evolution of the Space Suit. About.com Space / Astronomy. Retrieved October 3, 2012, from http://space.about.com/od/spaceexpl
