Current space suits are an amazing invention, but it seems that they are becoming obsolete ... Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researchers, along with NASA, working intensively on a new generation of space suit, and the innovation it seems to surpass all expectations.
MIT called "Bio Suit" (ang. BioSuit) operates a slightly different approach than traditional spacesuits: gas pressure in them is converted to mechanical pressure generated by a metal wire coil "- revealed MIT aeronautics, astronautics and engineering systems professor Dava Newman, who has contributed to the development of this innovation.
"With the traditional costumes of the space, you're basically a gas cylinder. This creates the minimum pressure needed to stay alive in space vacuum, - says Newman - We want to achieve the same level of pressure, but a mechanical way - by targeting it directly to the skin, and the gas pressure can be avoided in general. "
It is not difficult to achieve, through the latest engineering invention - active compression garments. As already mentioned, these garments are built of metal wires that are heated - recovers. Wire is used as a so-called "shape memory alloys", which returns to heat up in a form. So cool suit is flexible enough to positioning of the astronaut, and slightly heated it shrinks to the correct output to the open space Full face size.
Such a suit would not only give the opportunity to freely astronaut to space - its biggest advantages: mobility and ease of use allow it and extraterrestrial planetary exploration.
"If you've seen a video in which the lunar surface the astronauts jumping his" turgid "costumes, you can imagine how difficult it was for them to perform their work. Therefore, scientists have puzzled over, and how to avoid all that, and the "Bio Suit" demonstrates the approach to good results - adds Newman.
However, the MIT team still has not found an effective way to evenly heat the wires and maintain a steady temperature, to the detriment of an astronaut wearing a suit. Also, there is a battery problem, such as a space suit requires a lot of energy. Currently, scientists are working to solve these problems.
Meanwhile, one of the engineers working on Space Applications, others rush to apply this technology to other areas - already tested and battlefield clothing. Thanks to these materials, they shrink and play tourniquet (an instrument for the bleeding to stop) function, if a soldier is wounded. Can scientists find a way to make this stuff cheap and easily available? Perhaps it could still take some time ...
