New NASA Spacesuit Design Is Similar to 'Tron' Outfit
- 10 years ago
NASA has announced the winner of the design for the next generation of spacesuits, and they look similar to the outfits from the classic ‘Tron’ videogame movie. The Z-2 prototype is the latest spacesuit cover to be announced after the Z-1, which looked like the character Buzz Lightyear from ‘Toy Story.’
NASA has announced the winner of the design for the next generation of spacesuits, and they look similar to the outfits from the classic ‘Tron’ videogame movie.
The Z-2 prototype is the follow-up to the Z-1, which resembled the one worn by Buzz Lightyear from ‘Toy Story.’
An online voting competition between three different designs was held by NASA, and the design called ‘Technology’ won with just over 63 percent of the 147, 354 votes that were cast.
Although the Z-2 is just a cover layer for the spacesuit of the future, and is still in the non-flight phase of design, it already has some advantages over the last Z-1 prototype, like improved mobility, durability, and boots that are closer to being ready for in-flight use.
According to NASA, the suit will be used for vacuum chamber testing, including one series of full vacuum tests, along with training astronauts for spacewalking in the pool at the Neutral Buoyancy Lab, and in simulations involving a rocky Martian surface located at the Johnson Space Center.
All of the tests will help scientists improve upon the spacesuit for future designs that have to be able to withstand radiation exposure, extreme temperature fluctuations, and micrometeoroid impacts.
NASA has announced the winner of the design for the next generation of spacesuits, and they look similar to the outfits from the classic ‘Tron’ videogame movie.
The Z-2 prototype is the follow-up to the Z-1, which resembled the one worn by Buzz Lightyear from ‘Toy Story.’
An online voting competition between three different designs was held by NASA, and the design called ‘Technology’ won with just over 63 percent of the 147, 354 votes that were cast.
Although the Z-2 is just a cover layer for the spacesuit of the future, and is still in the non-flight phase of design, it already has some advantages over the last Z-1 prototype, like improved mobility, durability, and boots that are closer to being ready for in-flight use.
According to NASA, the suit will be used for vacuum chamber testing, including one series of full vacuum tests, along with training astronauts for spacewalking in the pool at the Neutral Buoyancy Lab, and in simulations involving a rocky Martian surface located at the Johnson Space Center.
All of the tests will help scientists improve upon the spacesuit for future designs that have to be able to withstand radiation exposure, extreme temperature fluctuations, and micrometeoroid impacts.