0
0
SpaceX Unveils New Spacesuit Design for Polaris Dawn Mission
SpaceX is gearing up for its next private astronaut launch scheduled for this summer, with a significant reveal that will play a critical role in the mission’s success. Named Polaris Dawn, this mission is set to mark the first extravehicular activity (EVA) tasks to be carried out by private astronauts. To meet this challenge, SpaceX has developed its own spacesuit designed to safeguard wearers in the unforgiving environment of space. The long-awaited design for these new suits has finally been unveiled.
Revolutionary Design Unveiled
The new spacesuit was showcased on SpaceX’s website and various social media platforms on Saturday, May 4. The reveal was complemented by an enlightening discussion on X, a platform Elon Musk’s SpaceX acquired in 2022, featuring SpaceX engineers and members of the Polaris Dawn crew.
Resembling SpaceX’s existing IVA suit (intravehicular activity suit), which is worn during spacecraft launches and landings but not suitable for spacewalks, the new EVA suits boast material enhancements and joint improvements. These upgrades aim to enhance astronauts’ mobility while ensuring their protection in the harsh vacuum of space.
Chris Drake, the manager of SpaceX’s spacesuit team, explained during the discussion on X the extensive work that went into developing these new suits. According to him, intricate adjustments were made to the suit’s materials to introduce a layer for thermal management. Additionally, the team focused on maintaining a comfortable temperature for the crew within the suit.
The suits also incorporate technologies utilized in other aspects of SpaceX’s production processes. For instance, thermal material initially crafted for Falcon and Dragon spacecraft was integrated into the suits, enhancing their functionality.
Advanced Features and Functionality
A notable feature of the new EVA suits is the inclusion of a heads-up display in the helmet design. This innovative feature allows astronauts to monitor essential data such as internal temperature, humidity, and pressure. The display also incorporates a mission clock to track the duration of specific EVA tasks.
Jared Isaacman, the mission commander for Polaris Dawn and a key funder of the mission in partnership with SpaceX, expressed his admiration for the design’s hidden complexities during the discussion. Isaacman, who previously spearheaded SpaceX’s Inspiration4 mission in 2021, praised the remarkable advancements made beneath the suit’s aesthetically similar exterior.
Notably, Polaris Dawn is the inaugural mission of Isaacman’s Polaris Program, envisioned to encompass up to three missions culminating in the first crewed flight of Starship. This mission is not only a feat in space exploration but also serves charitable purposes, aiming to raise funds for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Pushing Boundaries with Polaris Dawn
Polaris Dawn will feature a crew comprising retired United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Scott “Kidd” Poteet as the mission pilot, alongside mission specialists Sarah Gillis and Anna Menon from SpaceX. The mission’s primary goal is to elevate human spaceflight to new heights by charting a trajectory higher than any human has ventured since the final Apollo moon landing mission over five decades ago.
During the X discussion on May 4, Menon shed light on the mission’s flight profile and timeline. The crew plans to conduct a series of experiments during the five-day mission, including capturing X-ray images of radiation in the Van Allen Belts, studying motion sickness in space, and testing various hardware components such as the new EVA suit and Crew Dragon capsule.
Given that the original Crew Dragon design lacks an airlock, the crew must depressurize the entire cabin to facilitate EVA tasks. SpaceX has made significant modifications to ensure the capsule can withstand the vacuum of space, including the installation of handrails, footholds, and a nitrogen repressurization system for the conclusion of EVA operations.
Isaacman emphasized the importance of this mission in advancing spacewalk capabilities beyond current government-led initiatives. He highlighted the necessity of expanding knowledge and expertise in EVAs to prepare for future missions to the moon and Mars, where astronauts will need to venture outside their habitats to explore, build, and repair in extraterrestrial environments.
Image/Photo credit: source url
