External Relations Office Johnson Space Center External Relations Office Education Resources To learn more about NASA spacesuits, visit these websites. http://www.nasa.gov/audience/foreducators/spacesuits/home/index.html http://www.nasa.gov/audience/forstudents/k-4/stories/what-is-a-spacesuit-k4.html www.nasa.gov
Project Mercury 1959 - 1963 NASA's first spacesuits were made for the Mercury program. Mercury was the first time NASA astronauts flew into space. The Mercury suits were worn only inside the spacecraft.
Project Gemini 1962 - 1968 NASA's first spacewalks took place during the Gemini program. These suits did not contain their own life support. A hose connected the astronaut to the spacecraft. The astronaut breathed oxygen from the spacecraft through the hose.
Apollo Program 1962 - 1972 Spacesuits for the Apollo program had boots made to walk on rocky ground. The Apollo suits also had a life support system. The astronauts could go far away from the lunar lander because they weren't connected to it by a hose. Twelve men have walked on the moon, two each on six different Apollo missions.
Space Shuttle Launch & Landing Suits 1981 - 2011 Astronauts wear orange spacesuits called "launch and entry suits" during launch and landing of the space shuttle. In space, these suits can be worn only inside the shuttle.
(EMU) Extravehicular Mobility Unit 1981 - Current An EVA is a spacewalk that takes place outside of a spacecraft. EVA stands for "extravehicular activity.” Edward H. White II performed the first EVA by an American on June 3, 1965, in Gemini IV
Testing Mark-III & I-Suit The Mark III is a rear-entry suit made of graphite/epoxy composite. The I-Suit is designed for multiple roles, including planetary excursion and microgravity EVA.
Testing Z-1 Suit The Z-1 is a rear-entry prototype spacesuit. It was developed to test various technologies and mobility joints.
Researching Bio Suits The Bio Suit would be a “second-skin” spacesuit that would allow for greater degrees of freedom in movement. a form-fitting suit that presses directly on the skin can accomplish the job. What is needed is an elastic fabric and a structure that can provide about one-third of sea-level atmospheric pressure, or 4.3 psi (approximately the pressure at the top of Mt. Everest). The skintight suit would allow for a degree of mobility impossible in a gas-filled suit.