NASA reveals prototype Mars spacesuit- Looks pretty rad

[[Seed Eater]]

[quote]
NASA has unveiled a futuristic new design for its Z-2 spacesuit that could someday be used in long-duration space missions to Mars.
...
A statement from the space agency explains: “NASA is developing the next generation of suit technologies that will enable deep space exploration by incorporating advancements such as regenerable carbon dioxide removal systems and water evaporation systems that more efficiently provide crew members with core necessities such as breathing air and temperature regulation”.

While existing NASA spacesuits are modular and have to be put on piece by piece, the new Z-2 has a rear-entry hatch, just like the Russian ‘Orlan’ spacesuit, meaning that astronauts can simply climb in through the back.[/quote]

[url=https://uk.news.yahoo.com/nasa-unveils-z-2-spacesuit-150134443.html]Yahoo[/url]

[img]https://i.imgur.com/fGfBPmY.jpg[/img]

[Trixil]

i feel like they're putting way too much attention towards aesthetic instead of functionality.

[vercas]

All they've got left to do is put the Brotherhood of Nod's logo on it:
[img]http://www.gamereplays.org/community/uploads/post-122871-1259983859.png[/img]

Anyway, it looks rather cyberpunk-ish.

[Freezorg]

[QUOTE=Trixil;49093623]i feel like they're putting way too much attention towards aesthetic instead of functionality.[/QUOTE]

Occasionally things practical things just happen to look cool.

[Killer Monkey]

[QUOTE=Trixil;49093623]i feel like they're putting way too much attention towards aesthetic instead of functionality.[/QUOTE]

Considering NASA made it I doubt the function is hindered at all, that would be counter productive. However they did pay at least a little more attention to cosmetic looks. Probably a good thing if its gonna be a historic suit for probably the rest of human history

[Big D Duchovny]

[QUOTE=Trixil;49093623]i feel like they're putting way too much attention towards aesthetic instead of functionality.[/QUOTE]

How, oh expert engineer?

[proboardslol]

[QUOTE=Trixil;49093623]i feel like they're putting way too much attention towards aesthetic instead of functionality.[/QUOTE]

When NASA has funding their job is to take us to mars.

When NASA has no funding, their job is to build hype to get funding

[Garrot]

Great. Now aliens will assume we're evil from the get-go.

[Dr.C]

I really like the hardened knuckles. It's going to be useful for when they have to fight the natives

[Maloof?]

[QUOTE=Trixil;49093623]i feel like they're putting way too much attention towards aesthetic instead of functionality.[/QUOTE]

Science is always a game of 'get funding'.

They're unlikely to get public as much public support (and thus funding) if they roll with the traiditional Apollo-style suits. Paying a designer decent sum to design something that looks awesome and sci-fi is going to get the attention of the public, and I can't overstate how important that is

[hipsterhendrix]

[QUOTE=Trixil;49093623]i feel like they're putting way too much attention towards aesthetic instead of functionality.[/QUOTE]

gotta look good for them space aliens

first impressions!

[draugur]

[QUOTE=Dr.C;49093686]I really like the hardened knuckles. It's going to be useful for when they have to fight the natives[/QUOTE]
If Mars Attacks! taught me anything it's that we gotta take the fight to those fucks first. Preemptive strike.

[ironman17]

[QUOTE=vercas;49093632]All they've got left to do is put the Brotherhood of Nod's logo on it:
[img]http://www.gamereplays.org/community/uploads/post-122871-1259983859.png[/img]

Anyway, it looks rather cyberpunk-ish.[/QUOTE]
I definitely did get some "Nod" vibes from the dark-grey suit and red chest thingy.

[Trixil]

is it me or does that backpack-thing scream "madden"

[Sableye]

[QUOTE=Trixil;49093623]i feel like they're putting way too much attention towards aesthetic instead of functionality.[/QUOTE]

have you seen the people who write NASA's checks.

lemme give you a hint
[t]http://crooksandliars.com/files/primary_image/15/09/tedcruz3.jpg[/t]

if it don't look cool then it isn't funded

[editline]10th November 2015[/editline]

the thing is while this is a great prototype, its exactly that, a prototype. NASA's suits advanced pretty rapidly once they started doing moon missions, the same thing happened when they started doing EVAs, for station repair work, though not at such a rapid pace, the suits we use today have to just have good arm movement, and the gloves have come a long way, but it doesn't compare to having to work equipment and walk around

[draugur]

Will the first civilian colonists be pioneers in spacesuit fashion? The future is going to be rad.

[Aphtonites]

[QUOTE=cr2142;49093701]gotta look good for them space aliens
first impressions![/QUOTE]
Good thing they ditched the "give me a wedgie and steal my lunch money" look of the Z1.
[IMG]http://i.space.com/images/i/000/024/740/i02/z-1=spacesuit-1.jpg?1356974813[/IMG]

[hipsterhendrix]

[QUOTE=Aphtonites;49093786]Good thing they ditched the "give me a wedgie and steal my lunch money" look of the Z1.
[IMG]http://i.space.com/images/i/000/024/740/i02/z-1=spacesuit-1.jpg?1356974813[/IMG][/QUOTE]

goddamn space kids with their rocket bmx's and their loud star music

[ironman17]

It is still a decent fashion change, going from Buzz Lightyear to Brotherhood of Nod.

Looks like they reduced the unintentional "cameltoe" too. Partially since black's kinda slimming, isn't it?

[Sableye]

[QUOTE=ironman17;49093909]It is still a decent fashion change, going from Buzz Lightyear to Brotherhood of Nod.

Looks like they reduced the unintentional "cameltoe" too. Partially since black's kinda slimming, isn't it?[/QUOTE]
i wouldn't get your hopes up though, the final product will inevitably have a white outter layer for thermal regulation

[ironman17]

I guess so. But if they keep the red bits it'd probably look alright, right? If the red complements the white, that is.

[Sableye]

[QUOTE=ironman17;49093943]I guess so. But if they keep the red bits it'd probably look alright, right? If the red complements the white, that is.[/QUOTE]

they will put stripes or markers on it to identify the individual

[Cheshire_cat]

SpaceX is supposed to unveil their own spacesuit design too. Considering how the Dragon V2 looks, I think NASA's suit will pale in comparison.

[Sableye]

[QUOTE=Cheshire_cat;49094059]SpaceX is supposed to unveil their own spacesuit design too. Considering how the Dragon V2 looks, I think NASA's suit will pale in comparison.[/QUOTE]

huh, i assumed space-x would launch with NASA suits for NASA missions, i think their flightsuits are more for proposed space-tourism. NASA has been reworking the shuttle suits into a full eva suit which would cut down on weight for missions that required evas

[RaikohZX]

It's like we're begging to create evil colonist uprisings in space

[E Quantifier]

[QUOTE=FinalHunter;49094200]Why the fuck is it black? How are you supposed to see people easily during space walks? Wasn't that the fucking point of it being white?[/QUOTE]
Well it's for Mars use, white suits would probably stain after a while.

That being said, I think a color like blue would be better Mars, easily visible against the red/orange part of the spectrum.

[Enclave]

I can understand the red details but not the grey colour. The grey colour would blend with the darkness more easily?

[Saxon]

[QUOTE=Trixil;49093623]i feel like they're putting way too much attention towards aesthetic instead of functionality.[/QUOTE]

Well I mean they do have to sell ideas to the government to get funding?

[paindoc]

I mean black would also absorb heat better, which is really not a problem with how bloody cold mars is anyways. Might save a touch of energy for the onboard life support systems. And it still stands out fairly well.

I'm curious how well insulated this is against radiation, mars' lack of magnetosphere means you pretty much get buttblasted by the full impact of both stellar and interstellar radiation

[editline]11th November 2015[/editline]

it also looks tougher and like its been beefed up at motion points and points where you're likely to contact the surface- between the actual gravity and the fact mars is covered in rocks having a more durable suit makes sense. I hope NASA releases a nice beefy engineering design brief on this suit, that'd be a fun read.

[Sableye]

[QUOTE=paindoc;49094648]I mean black would also absorb heat better, which is really not a problem with how bloody cold mars is anyways. Might save a touch of energy for the onboard life support systems. And it still stands out fairly well.

I'm curious how well insulated this is against radiation, mars' lack of magnetosphere means you pretty much get buttblasted by the full impact of both stellar and interstellar radiation

[editline]11th November 2015[/editline]

it also looks tougher and like its been beefed up at motion points and points where you're likely to contact the surface- between the actual gravity and the fact mars is covered in rocks having a more durable suit makes sense. I hope NASA releases a nice beefy engineering design brief on this suit, that'd be a fun read.[/QUOTE]

no suit today is shielded against radiation anyways, the apollo missions were just lucky they didn't have a solar flair too big while they were out on the moon or in its orbit

whats interesting about this suit is it looks like they've ditched the cotton-based outer garment and went with some kind of polymer fabric instead, anticipating that martian or lunar dust would quickly stain and potentially damage the cotton outer garment