NASA opens up spacesuit design to public vote
THINK you know how an astronaut suit should look and what colours are in season in space this year? Well NASA wants your help to design a spacesuit.
IF you’ve ever wanted to participate in spacesuit design, even in a small way, NASA’s giving everyone the chance to do just that.
Space enthusiasts are about to come one step closer to deciding the future of space travel, with NASA launching an online campaign to chose the outer layer of its new-age spacesuit.
Close to 90,000 people have already cast their votes on three prototypes, which have been developed by NASA, together with a suit manufacturer and design students from Philadelphia University.
One design is already the clear leader with 65 per cent of the votes.
According to NASA, Option A is the “The “Biomimicry” suit which “draws from an environment with many parallels to the harshness of space: the world’s oceans. Mirroring the bioluminescent qualities of aquatic creatures found at incredible depths, and the scaly skin of fish and reptiles found across the globe, this design reflects the qualities that protect some of Earth’s toughest creatures.”
Option B looks into the future with a design called “Technology” which “pays homage to spacesuit achievements of the past while incorporating subtle elements of the future. By using Luminex wire and light-emitting patches, this design puts a new spin on spacewalking standards such as ways to identify crew members.” according to the website.
And the final choice is labelled “Trends in Society” which has been designed “off just that: being reflective of what every day clothes may look like in the not too distant future. This suit uses electroluminescent wire and a bright colour scheme to mimic the appearance of sportswear and the emerging world of wearable technologies.”
NASA expects the final Z-2 suit to be built by the end of this year. It will then undergo rigorous testing in a number of harsh environments.
You can vote online until April 15th.
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