Why astronauts wear heavy suits

Thus, the astronaut can always work comfortably in the spacesuit. In addition to all these, the astronaut must wear a spacesuit to be protected from pressure, radiation and meteor dust. Even though we can't feel it, air is constantly pressing down on us with a tremendous force.

We cannot see this force with our eyes, but we constantly experience the results of this effect, especially when driving on steep hills or getting off an airplane. This pressure created by the air and the internal pressure created by the beat of our heart is constantly in balance. As we just explained, there is no air in space. This means that there is no air pressure in space.

Therefore, spacesuits are inflated with a certain amount of air, just like a balloon, to apply the necessary external pressure to the astronaut. Thus, the body fluids of astronauts can remain in liquid form during a spacewalk. There is a special layer of atmosphere in the world that protects us from the harmful rays of the sun.

However, since there is no atmosphere layer in space, the sun's harmful rays , also called radiation, can cause great harm to astronauts. Space suits have layers to protect astronauts from radiation and reflect incoming rays.

Also included in the spacesuit is a gold-plated visor section to protect the astronauts' eyes. Meteor dusts are small particles orbiting the earth. You might think; "How could a tiny dust particle hurt an astronaut?

Meteor dusts move in orbit of the Earth at a speed of approximately 24, km per hour. Therefore, when any small particle hits an astronaut, it can cause great damage. For this reason, there is a special protection shield in the upper part of the spacesuit and in the area called the Hard Upper Torso , which is similar to the structure of bulletproof vests. Thanks to this shield, the astronaut is protected from the vital damage that a meteor dust can cause.

Astronauts may have to take long space walks from time to time. The record belongs to two astronauts, Jim Voss and Susan Helms, who took a spacewalk for 8 hours and 56 minutes. Of course, astronauts can get hungry or thirsty during this long spacewalk. If necessary, you may think that they can go to the space station and have their food.

But every minute in space is planned and very important. Taking off a spacesuit, that actually takes 15 minutes to put on with someone's help, can cost the astronaut half an hour, so the astronauts do not prefer to return to the space station and take a lunch break. NASA has found a solution to this issue as well. Under normal circumstances, menus containing more than types of food are prepared for the International Space Station astronauts. These menus that include snacks can be consumed by astronauts at the station.

There is also a high-calorie chocolate bar, fixed in a space suit helmet close to the mouth, so that astronauts can gain energy on challenging spacewalks. Especially on long spacewalks, astronauts enjoy the meal breaks where they consume these chocolates.

Since they cannot use their hands, astronauts consume the chocolate bar by biting on it several times. The next need of the astronaut consuming a high-calorie chocolate bar is of course water. At this point, a water bag located in the spacesuit helmet and a straw attached to this bag comes to aid. The tip of the straw can be opened and closed using only the mouth. It can be said that this shield is cost-effective considering that a spacesuit is not crafted for every single astronaut and it can be used repeatedly for many years as long as there are no problems with it.

Initially, it may look like the most expensive item on the space suit is the Primary Life Support System. This unit, which is responsible for adjusting the oxygen and the temperature levels, contains several electronic devices. However, in terms of cost, the parts that NASA spends the most are the gloves of the astronauts.

Spacesuit gloves are the main limiting factor when it comes to working in space. Astronauts usually handle from 70 to tools, tethers and associated equipment for a typical spacewalk. Like an inflated balloon, the fingers of the gloves resist the effort to bend them. Astronauts must fight that pressure with every movement of their hand, which is exhausting and sometimes results in injury. Furthermore, the joints of the glove are subject to wear that can lead to life-threatening leaks.

For this reason, the gloves are specially designed to aid astronauts' mobility. In a nutshell, spacesuits are basically wearable spacecrafts and can not only keep astronauts alive, but also feed them, allow them to communicate, and even be used as a toilet. Would you like to be an astronaut? If you were an astronaut, what kind of spacesuit would you like to wear?

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It also has a ventilation system that provides astronauts with oxygen. Helmets also contain a small foam block that astronauts can use to scratch their noses. Current spacesuits are pressurized to 4. Problems also run the other way: The pressure bands can cause chafing on the skin. Search titles only. Search Advanced search…. Everywhere Threads This forum This thread. Search Advanced…. Log in. New posts Trending Search forums.

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Previous Next. Jan 27, 1 0 SaraRayne said:. Ken Fabian. Dec 29, I doubt spacesuits will survive in current form if 10 hour day jobs in space become a thing; I don't think there will be many of those, suiting suited humans rather than better serviced by machines. I think without power assist of some sort basic manual tasks will always be slow, hard work, with fine dexterity compromised, but if your suits are in effect robots you may as well use robots - or use other, probably sophisticated remote operation, which can be done from the comfort and safety of It isn't a matter of preference; for going commercial having the least astronauts keeps costs down.

But assuming there is a place for humans working in spacesuits then it will be different suits for different purposes. Something for working outside, something different for working inside - in vacuum within a station, without the sun or radiation - and quick and easy one size fits all emergency suits, just in case. Different suits for different tasks. For any kind of physical work you need anchoring to get leverage. The astronauts wear the same types of clothes that we usually wear on Earth.

Inside the Space Shuttle, the air pressure is kept at 1 atmosphere, which is the same level as on earth. Therefore, except for the orange flight suits that are worn during launch and reentry, the astronauts do not need any special clothes. In the microgravity environment of space, a spacesuit weighs nothing. Putting on a spacesuit takes 45 minutes, including the time it takes to put on the special undergarments that help keep astronauts cool.

A spacesuit is much more than a set of clothes astronauts wear on spacewalks. A fully equipped spacesuit is really a one-person spacecraft. Each layer does something different.