New SpaceX spacesuits get five-star rating from NASA astronauts
The movie-star look to SpaceX's new spacesuits is just one of the innovative features the Crew Dragon astronauts enjoyed during the Demo-2 test flight to the International Space Station.
NASA astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken were the first humans to wear the suits in space during their mission, which began May 30 with a flawless launch from Florida — the first human spaceflight from the region since the space shuttle program ended in 2011.
How things have changed since then. Instead of the old-school "pumpkin suit" launch suits Behnken and Hurley wore multiple times for space shuttle missions, this time the veteran astronauts were decked in all-white SpaceX suits for their rocket ride to orbit.
Related: From Apollo to Mars: The evolution of spacesuits
"I bet you we've donned and offed those suits a couple hundred times," Hurley said during a press conference June 1 from on board the space station. The SpaceX spacesuits were custom-made for the astronauts and thus used extensively during training for the Demo-2 mission.
Because the spacesuits were fitted to the astronauts' individual body types, Hurley added, "they were actually much easier to get in and out of in zero G," or weightlessness, compared to the pumpkin suits, which were also called the Advanced Crew Escape Suit (ACES). ACES and the SpaceX spacesuits are not designed for spacewalks — just for backup during launches and landings.
"We'd have to get the suits a five-star rating," Behnken added during the discussion about the SpaceX suits. He pointed to some of the primary functions of the spacesuit, which is to protect the astronauts in case of fire or depressurization aboard SpaceX's Crew Dragon spacecraft.
Get the Space.com Newsletter
Breaking space news, the latest updates on rocket launches, skywatching events and more!
"These suits didn't have to do that job for us, which was nice. But it was clear that they were ready," he said.
Both astronauts thanked the ground crews for their work in developing the spacesuits, which was done to very closely tune the spacesuits to the functionality of Crew Dragon. The gloves were designed to work with the spacecraft touchscreens, and the spacesuits were made to plug into seat umbilicals carrying oxygen and cool air from the spacecraft.
"One of the things that was important in the development of the suit was to make it easy to use, something that the crew just literally has to plug in when they sit down, and the suit takes care of things from there," said Chris Trigg, SpaceX's spacesuits and crew equipment manager, in a May 27 video SpaceX posted to Twitter.
The spacesuit has been tested in space before, just to make sure it was ready for humans. A version flew on the Tesla-driving dummy SpaceX launched towards Mars orbit in 2018, and another spacesuit decked thee dummy Ripley that flew aboard the uncrewed SpaceX Crew Dragon Demo-1 test flight to the space station in 2019.
- Adam Savage on SpaceX's first astronaut launch, spacesuits and storytelling
- NASA just unveiled the spacesuit to be worn by first woman on the moon
- Future spacesuits should be beautiful — and not just for space. Here's why.
Follow Elizabeth Howell on Twitter @howellspace. Follow us on Twitter @Spacedotcom and on Facebook.
OFFER: Save 45% on 'All About Space' 'How it Works' and 'All About History'!
For a limited time, you can take out a digital subscription to any of our best-selling science magazines for just $2.38 per month, or 45% off the standard price for the first three months.
Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.
Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before joining full-time. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House and Office of the Vice-President of the United States, an exclusive conversation with aspiring space tourist (and NSYNC bassist) Lance Bass, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, "Why Am I Taller?", is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University and a Bachelor of History from Canada's Athabasca University. Elizabeth is also a post-secondary instructor in communications and science at several institutions since 2015; her experience includes developing and teaching an astronomy course at Canada's Algonquin College (with Indigenous content as well) to more than 1,000 students since 2020. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday. Mastodon: https://qoto.org/@howellspace
-
One question - while these suits rely on the capsule connections, could a portable unit be developed to connect to the umbilicals and allow for EVA?Admin said:The movie-star look to SpaceX's new spacesuits is just one of the innovative features the Crew Dragon astronauts enjoyed during the Demo-2 test flight to the International Space Station.
New SpaceX spacesuits get five-star rating from NASA astronauts : Read more -
These suits are suitable for vacuum to protect from cabin depressurization, but in addition to that EVA requires a lot of extra insulation and environmental systems to protect astronauts from radiation and extreme cold and hot temperatures experienced outside a spacecraft. As such, I don't believe the Space X suits are rated for EVA.HildyJ said:One question - while these suits rely on the capsule connections, could a portable unit be developed to connect to the umbilicals and allow for EVA? -
"Does this spacesuit make me look fat?"Stan Grainger said:Looks more like castoffs from the band Devo. -
Yes, indeed, perhaps Arthur Clarke and the novel and movie 2001: Space Odyssey shall ting a bell.Reply