NASA reveals results of space suit design competition
30/04/2014
There have only been four major redesigns of the suits over the years and the latest version is an update of the Z-1 launched in 2012, which has been modified to make walking easier, as the Americans aim for another moon landing by 2020.
There have only been four major redesigns of the suits over the years and the latest version is an update of the Z-1 launched in 2012, which has been modified to make walking easier, as the Americans aim for another moon landing by 2020.??
With 233,431 votes, the "Technology" option (pictured) won with just over 63% of the total vote. This design now will be incorporated into the final version of the suit, which is expected to be ready for testing by November 2014. Shane McFarland, one of the suit engineers working on the Z-2, told Sportstextiles.com: “We are concentrating on efforts associated with enabling planetary surface exploration. Among the primary drivers for a suit to provide this functionality are reduced weight, dust mitigation and performing over a range of thermal extremes.”
A more detailed interview with Mr MacFarland, looking at the new space suit design and how advanced materials work in space, will be published in the next edition of WSA.
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