Evolution is a fundamental part of being human. Life is built around humanity’s capabilities to advance and create a better scenario for its existence and preservation. Among everything we seek to explore is astronomy, that activity full of experimentation and space suits that seem straight out of an action movie.
Not long ago, American cinema began to explore the striking settings and costumes with which astronauts would reach space. Imagination had no limits and, really, still does not.
Recently, the space technology company SpaceX, belonging to , was in charge of developing, together with NASA, an ambitious project that would once again take two astronauts to travel through space until they reached the International Space Station.
Far from the spectacle of a space rocket launch, during the first launch attempt of the Crew Dragon on the Falcon 9 rocket, other very striking and, in our opinion, very futuristic elements also stood out: the space suits.
A very SpaceX space style
It’s not every day you have the opportunity to go on a trip in a rocket ship, and if one day you have to do it, why not wear the latest in alien fashion? Elon Musk has stood out for being a versatile inventor eager to lead humanity into a multiplanetary era, and his recent project with NASA showed that, at least in appearance, he has already conquered the future.
The space suits designed by José Fernández, a renowned Hollywood designer, have a futuristic science fiction style far removed from the robust suits previously designed by NASA.
Musk’s goal was, of course, to create something that anyone could wear and that looked good, in addition to considering all the safety specifications to protect the lives of astronauts. In this way, not only is the design of the suits something different, but technology was also applied that makes this trip through space more attractive.
7 differences between SpaceX and NASA spacesuits
The SpaceX suit has touch gloves that allow you to interact with the capsule’s screens.
The helmet has a built-in microphone system for communication.
It can only be used intravehicularly, that is, astronauts cannot go out with it.
The design, although minimalist, protects astronauts from any emergency inside the capsule, for example, depressurization.
The suit maintains a single connection point to the capsule for life support.
The helmet visor has an automatic retractable system.
The entire assembly is flame resistant and lighter, with the aim of facilitating the astronaut’s tasks inside the capsule.
The first feature is that the suits are already suitable for both men and women. After all, we don’t want a spacewalk to be canceled due to a lack of design diversity.
The second feature is that both suits withstand temperatures up to -150°.
The SpaceX one is designed to keep an astronaut alive for 6 days
They have interchangeable parts to adapt to the astronaut’s activities.
They can be used on the surface of a planet or during spacewalks.
Astronauts can enter the suit through a hatch, without having to put on piece by piece.
It has two visors in case one is damaged by dust particles.
Although the differences seem to be solely physical, the SpaceX and NASA suits stand out for their use of technology in its greatest splendor. In this case the missions are very different, and each of the characteristics of both spacesuits depends on that.
While suits have always been a big attraction within NASA missions, SpaceX demonstrated that a new era of astronomy is about to begin, one where prior knowledge is mixed with experimentation. Everything to get to know other worlds.