A space suit protects astronauts from radiation, extreme temperatures and flying debris. It supplies air and water and can function as a mini spacecraft. The suit is made of specialized fabrics and includes a backpack for oxygen and a SAFER for emergency returns. Specially designed clothing with cooling tubes is worn underneath.
A space suit is protective clothing that astronauts wear when outside a spacecraft. This suit supplies them with air and water while protecting them from radiation, flying debris and extreme temperatures. If needed, the spacesuit also functions as a mini spacecraft, allowing the astronaut to return to the spacecraft or space station if it gets separated. To protect the astronaut’s eyes from the sun, a special visor is attached to the helmet. These suits are also known as extravehicular mobility units or EMUs.
To keep the astronaut alive, a special backpack is provided, which is called the primary life support subsystem. This backpack supplies the astronaut with oxygen while she is out of the spacecraft and expels the carbon dioxide as it is exhaled. The backpack also houses a water tank for cooling and generates electricity for the space suit.
Another component of the suit is an accessory that transforms the space suit into a small jet. This is called the simplified extravehicular activity rescue aid, or SAFER. A SAFER is a precautionary measure that allows an astronaut to return to the spacecraft or space station if they are separated from it for some reason.
The space suit must protect the astronaut from many environmental extremes. Astronauts face temperatures ranging from 250 degrees Fahrenheit (120 degrees Celsius) to a freezing -250 degrees Fahrenheit (-160 degrees Celsius). A space suit is made up of many layers of specialized fabric, including high-strength composites, ortho-fabric, dacron, nylon/elastane, neoprene-coated nylon, urethane-coated nylon, tricot, aluminized mylar, and stainless steel.
Each part of the space suit is made separately and then joined together. The astronaut’s chest or upper body is covered by a unit made of hard materials. Softer, more flexible fabrics are used for the arm and hand coverings to allow for greater freedom of movement. For the head, a specialized helmet is designed to protect the head, while still allowing for the greatest possible visibility. The bottom half of the suit covers the legs and feet.
Astronauts don’t wear regular clothes under a space suit, they wear specially designed clothing that has tubes woven into the fabric. This garment covers and keeps the body cool by pumping water through pipes. It fits very tightly to the astronaut’s body but does not cover the head, hands or feet.
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