Space Suits

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Recommended: Space exploration past and present

Throughout the many space discoveries, science has played a major role for its findings; without doubt, science has also contributed for the creation of the Apollo 11 mission space suits which successfully allowed astronauts to fly and moon walk on the moon for the first time in history. This lunar suit was created to handle extreme temperatures, radiation, and provide oxygen and water to the astronauts while they were conducting extra vehicular activities and ‘during unpressurized spacecraft operations.’
Initially, NASA made its first spacesuits for mission Mercury out of neoprene, rubber, cloth and aluminum-all of which only provided a backup in case of a spacecraft pressure loss as the astronauts remained inside only; Due to the varied temperatures-from 250 to -250 degrees F- present for spacewalking and moon walking, the current suits needed modification. One of the biggest challenges was finding an extremely heat resistant suit, a mistake was made in the Apollo 1, in which there were flammable materials present in the spacecraft and on the space suits, which caused the entire craft and astronauts in it to fire up. Researchers, scientists and engineers tested many materials for their heat resistance, often by creating materials which had elements of low reactive characteristics. After the Apollo 1 tragedy, a plant called PolyBenzImidazole (PBI) - a synthetic fiber with a high melting point was found; this had great chemical stability and was incorporated in the spacesuit for the required thermal tolerance and durability. The spacesuit consisted of 21 layers, 20 of which were made from nylon and neoprene (synthetic rubber) - a material made of elements carbon, hydrogen and amine chemicals, which once used together...

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...rks.com, 14 Dec. 2000. Web. 13 May 2014. .
"Moon Landing Meltdown: Apollo 11 Spacesuits Gradually Disintegrating - SPIEGEL ONLINE." SPIEGEL ONLINE. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2014. .
"NASA Apollo 11 - Neil Armstrong Spacesuit." NASA Apollo 11 - Neil Armstrong Spacesuit. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2014. .
"Space Suits Past and Future." Air & Space Magazine. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2014. .
"| National Air and Space Museum." | National Air and Space Museum. N.p., n.d. Web. 13 May 2014. .

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