Remind me to glue his helmet shut when we get back

December 20, 2012 11:23 AM

Here is NASA's Z1 Prototype Spacesuit and Portable Life Support System featuring a rear-entry design (interviews with spacesuit engineers Cristina Achondo and Amy Ross). And yes, it looks a little familiar.
posted by elgilito (23 comments total)

now make me a working ray gun and we can talk.
posted by The Whelk at 11:26 AM on December 20, 2012

Whats the deal with the skirts on the legs?
posted by blue_beetle at 11:32 AM on December 20, 2012

As someone who also features a rear-entry design, I approve.
posted by OverlappingElvis at 11:32 AM on December 20, 2012 [3 favorites]

Whats the deal with the skirts on the legs?

Probably so you can wear it as shorts on the hotter planets.
posted by Panjandrum at 11:35 AM on December 20, 2012 [16 favorites]

To infinity, and behind!
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 11:36 AM on December 20, 2012 [3 favorites]

I've been wondering about docking a space suit to the space craft, which this design is supposed to do. Doesn't that leave the suit exposed to the elements, thus wearing out faster or getting damaged?
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 11:40 AM on December 20, 2012

I was hoping that this was going to be one of the bodysuit types, but I guess they aren't quite ready. Such as the biosuit
posted by Hicksu at 11:40 AM on December 20, 2012 [1 favorite]

I've been wondering about docking a space suit to the space craft, which this design is supposed to do. Doesn't that leave the suit exposed to the elements, thus wearing out faster or getting damaged?

Most of the places space suits go are pretty short on things that qualify as "The elements."
posted by Tomorrowful at 11:47 AM on December 20, 2012 [1 favorite]

If this suit goes into actual use, I propose that we stop using the term "astronaut", and start using "space ranger."
posted by Strange Interlude at 12:11 PM on December 20, 2012

One of the most disappointing disconnects between reality and science fiction is how goddamn goofy and bulky every space-suit looks. This is elegant.
posted by codacorolla at 12:15 PM on December 20, 2012

good god i can't stop staring at the spacesuit camel toe
posted by backseatpilot at 12:35 PM on December 20, 2012

Most of the places space suits go are pretty short on things that qualify as "The elements."

Is it wrong to think of extreme temperature extremes, radiation and micro meteorite bombardment as "elements"? I'm presuming that would cause wear and tear on the suit as its sitting out there attached to the ship
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 12:47 PM on December 20, 2012 [1 favorite]

One of the most disappointing disconnects between reality and science fiction is how goddamn goofy and bulky every space-suit looks. This is elegant.

Well, except for the barn boots.
posted by aught at 12:55 PM on December 20, 2012

Hey this reminds me of a film I still vividly remember from over 40 years ago. Thanks to YouTube, I have just watched it for the first time since then.

James Burke demonstrates the Apollo lunar EVA spacesuit.
posted by charlie don't surf at 1:43 PM on December 20, 2012 [1 favorite]

There's something strikingly futuristic about this suit to my eyes, I can see someone in that crouched pose on the Moon, an asteroid or Mars.
posted by nfg at 3:50 PM on December 20, 2012

good god i can't stop staring at the spacesuit camel toe

GOD DAMNIT IT CAN'T BE UNSEEN. I HATE YOU.
posted by aspo at 3:50 PM on December 20, 2012

MY GOD, IT'S FULL OF LARS!!!
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 3:53 PM on December 20, 2012

Whats the deal with the skirts on the legs?

They're culottes, and apparently they provide a practical alternative to summer skirts.
posted by Joe in Australia at 4:02 PM on December 20, 2012

Codacorolla, you should check out the Space Activity Suit. Skintight, attractive, and vacuum-safe.
posted by sixswitch at 4:19 PM on December 20, 2012

Brandon Blatcher: Typically one would put them on the inside of a door, but the door doesn't have to be airtight, just a cover.
posted by Canageek at 8:20 PM on December 20, 2012

Interestingly enough the Apollo suits were made by Playtex (the bra manufacturer). They had their very best seamstresses working closely with the engineers to make the suits. Basic criteria were to sew the 21 very thin layers together with mm precision, no pins were allowed.

You can read more about this in the book Spacesuit: Fashioning Apollo.
posted by Confess, Fletch at 8:21 PM on December 20, 2012

The third or fourth photo appears to have a greenish liquid filling up the helmet, or the entire suit. What's that about? Testing for leaks?
posted by TreeRooster at 8:28 AM on December 21, 2012

Just one of the astronauts in their natural form.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 9:05 AM on December 21, 2012 [2 favorites]