Fancy helping Nasa to design a new spacesuit cover? The space agency hopes to have a fully built Z-2 suit later this year, which will be put through its paces on Earth with rigorous testing.
The garb needs a tough cover to withstand these ground-based tests, and space engineers want to give this protective outer layer a memorable appearance. This is where the public vote comes in.
Nasa’s website offers three potential design concepts. “Biomimicry” takes its inspiration from ocean creatures: it features segmented pleats at the shoulder, elbow, hip and knee, and electroluminescent wire on the torso stands out visibly in reduced light.
Or maybe the “Technology” design will catch your eye with its electroluminescent wire and patches across the upper and lower torso.
Meanwhile, the jaunty “Trends in society” design looks to reflect “what everyday clothes may look like in the not-too-distant future”. Again electroluminescent wire cuts a dash on the sporty-looking suit.
However, the chosen cover design won’t be turning up on Mars or out on space walks, because those environments would call for different types of outer protection. According to the website, “the cover layer of a non-flight suit, which is used for ground-based testing, serves as abrasion/snag protection, a cover for technical details, and to a lesser extent, aesthetics”.
You can see the spacesuit cover designs and cast your vote at jscfeatures.jsc.nasa.gov/z2
