Finally, it's here. NASA has a new spacesuit for the big Mars trip.

NASA HAS A NEW SPACESUIT FOR THE BIG MARS TRIP

After years of the same old white extravehicular mobility outfits, NASA has gotten snazzy with the Tron-inspired Z-2 spacesuit. The space agency just released photos of the Z-2 prototype last week and the photos show black and gray suits with sleeker lines that look like outfits astronauts will actually be able to move around in.

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I have been waiting to finally see the new spacesuit NASA has been working on for a good number of years now. Higher mobility, lightweight, and a faster solution to put on and take off (current spacesuits take up to 6 hours to put on for EVA's)

In fact, the Z-2 was designed to offer a lot more mobility than earlier styles of spacesuits (the ones that made the astronauts look and move like the Marshmallow Man from "Ghostbusters") because the astronauts that wear these suits will be using them to explore a foreign planet and won't be worn aboard the spacecraft or to conduct spacewalks or anything like that.
The suit is designed for maximum astronaut productivity on a planetary surface – exploring, collecting samples, and maneuvering in and out of habitats and rovers, according to a NASA release.

The suit comes with an adjustable waist and adjustable shoulders so it can fit any astronaut. It's lightweight but the torso is still really tough and the whole thing is designed to hold up to whatever conditions Mars can dish up. But the suit gets even more fancy than that: Parts of the Z-2 will be created using 3D scans of astronauts bodies to make sure that the suit will fit each wearer perfectly.

Can't wait for it to get field-tested and approved for flight.

a reply to: Clairaudience

Anyone else here the epic theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey when looking at these pics? LOL

anyone else notice that this space suit has lace-up boots on?

Its not the exo-suit/mech warrior rig we needed but it will do.

a reply to: Clairaudience

IMO it should be tested on a lunar mission first.

We should be taking baby steps, rather than going straight to Mars we should be attempting a short time stay on the moon: If NASA and co can manage to create a self contained habitat for a month or so then it could help understand the physical and mental effects on astronauts and help perfect the habitation of the spacecraft that will take us to Mars, and maybe a Lunar habitat could help straighten out the kinks, after all those who will go to mars are not going to spend months on a space ship just for a day trip, we may as well make the best of their time.

Let us get to point B before we aim for point C.

a reply to: Slanter

it doesn't need to be extremely airtight. this isn't for use in the void of space, it's for use on mars. Mars has an atmosphere and the resultant atmospheric pressure, however much lighter it may be.

a reply to: Thecakeisalie

First we have been to the Moon already, had our "short time stay" and gathered an incredible amount of data.
Second, living on the Moon would be a lot more complicated than living on Mars. While I agree that the time spent to travel to Mars by today's standards are far too long, Mars offers several features that makes living there a lot easier and more sustainable compared to the Moon. You have an atmosphere, you have potential water sources, Martian soil can be used to grow plants, less radiation, more gravitational pull etc, all those things are lacking or are nonexistent on the Moon, making living on Mars similar to living on Earth.

As for the time it takes to fly to Mars, new propulsion methods being tested right now could reduce the time to 30 days.

a reply to: Clairaudience

Love the MC Hammer pants.

I like the hiking boots and the carbon fiber Oakley tactical gloves.

I know it's only a mock-up but....guys, come on!

The idea behind these suits is a rear-entry I believe. The suits themselves will never go "inside" an airlock, but rather attach to the outside of the habitat module and rover. The astronaut will climb into the suit through the back, and off they go. When they return, they'll put their back up against the habitat and "dock" then climb into the habitat from the suit.

This is a concept that will never fly.

The most likely window for a manned launch is 2035+, and you can't tell me that in 20 years there won't be changes in technology, advancements in material science, and engineering progress. This is a one off to show the media, nothing more.

a reply to: Thecakeisalie

can you give a reasonable answer to why?