SpaceX has conducted the first ever private spacewalk in history with its Polaris Dawn mission. When mission commander Isaacman partially exited the hatch of the spaceship, Resilience, it was an exciting scene to watch. While the astronaut didn’t walk and stayed connected to the spaceship, it was still a monumental moment.
The key part of the mission was the sleek-looking space suit Isaacman and the other astronauts were wearing. This suit, called the SpaceX EVA suit, doesn’t look much like the clunkier NASA space suit that the public is more familiar with.
The Functionality of SpaceX’s EVA Suit
While NASA’s signature suit was designed for long spacewalks, SpaceX’s EVA suit was designed for short periods of exposure to space. This means the SpaceX suit needed to help astronauts move easily and flexibly. Instead of multi-layered insulation, life support, and the other bulky components for safety in NASA’s suit, SpaceX’s suit is lightweight and mobile.
SpaceX vs. NASA: Materials
Unlike NASA’s space suit, which is made of durable materials including Kevlar, Nomex, and Gore-Tex with 14 layers of material in total, SpaceX innovative suit uses more flexible temperature-regulating materials. When astronauts are inside the spaceship, the material is soft, but it hardens when they are outside. For arm and leg movement, the suit has rotational joints. In the words of the principal engineer, Erik Kraus, the suit is “like a suit of armor made of fabric.”
The EVA suit also has a metallic layer which shields the astronaut from electric fields.
SpaceX vs. NASA: Visor
While the NASA suit has a manually-adjustable visor that reflects UV rays and keeps radiation out, SpaceX’s EVA suit has a smaller, 3D-printed visor. With the help of a Heads-Up Display, the astronaut receives real-time data about humidity, oxygen levels, pressure, and other key information. SpaceX’s visor also protects against UV rays and radiation, but not as effectively or for long periods compared to NASA’s.
SpaceX vs. NASA: Life Support Systems
The clunky nature of NASA’s space suit is largely due to its portable life support system. It’s a critical component to help astronauts carry out long hours of work in space. The life support system also has backup systems in case something malfunctions. In contrast, SpaceX’s EVA suit uses the spaceship’s life support system, which is connected to the suit via a long cord.
The Future of Space Exploration
For something as high-risk as a space walk, it’s important for space suits to strike the right balance between safety and ease of use for missions. Space suits will continue to evolve as astronauts continue exploring the great beyond.
SpaceX plans to eventually mass-produce suits for astronauts to explore the moon and Mars. They are currently testing a new spacecraft, Starship, for a mission to the moon. It has flown 4 test flights and is awaiting approval for the 5th.
References:
https://www.space.com/spacex-polaris-dawn-private-astronaut-mission-splashdown
https://www.space.com/spacex-new-eva-spacewalking-spacesuit-video
https://www.fastcompany.com/91190436/why-spacex-suits-look-so-sleek-and-nasas-look-so-clunky
