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“Z” Suits” NASA’s Exploration Extravehicular Activity Space Suit Development Program

“Z” Suits” NASA’s Exploration Extravehicular Activity Space Suit Development Program. FISO Telecon 060414 Phil Spampinato ILC Dover spampp@ilcdover.com 302-335-3911X350 (work) 302-382-2979 (mobile). Z Suits.

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“Z” Suits” NASA’s Exploration Extravehicular Activity Space Suit Development Program

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  1. “Z” Suits”NASA’s Exploration Extravehicular Activity Space Suit Development Program FISO Telecon 060414 Phil Spampinato ILC Dover spampp@ilcdover.com 302-335-3911X350 (work) 302-382-2979 (mobile)

  2. Z Suits • NASA is developing the next generation Space Suit for future missions including Mars Exploration • ILC delivered Z1 2011 • We will deliver Z2 2014 • Z3 planned 2018 • Z1 and Z2 trace their history to prior suit technology demonstrators

  3. Types of Space Suits • Intravehicular Activity (IVA) • Launch, entry, abort • Contingency suit • Cabin depressurization • Cabin smoke • “Self-rescue” mobility • Pad abort • Egress after landing • ILC Pathfinder Suit shown

  4. Types of Space Suits • Microgravity Extravehicular Activity (EVA) • ISS Extravehicular Mobility Unit • Environmental protection • Ability to do work • No walking-type locomotion • Feet/legs provide anchor points • React loads from doing work with arms • Commercial EVA Suit developed • Limited walking required

  5. Types of Space Suits • Planetary Surface EVA • Environmental protection • Ability to do work • Locomotion • Dust protection • Lower body used to do work • Apollo suit: • Still the only suit used in planetary exploration

  6. Z Suit Series Overview Z1 - 2011 Z2 - 2014 Z3 – 2018+

  7. Z Suit Strategy • Purpose • Provide the most capable suit architecture to support challenging mission requirements, largely represented in a Mars mission, that is applicable to any surface, and adaptable for microgravity • Methodology • Develop, test, and understand the capabilities and limitations of each prototype mobility joint system and at assembly level • Goal • Flight fidelity suit system in a vacuum chamber by 2018 (Z3 Suit, PLSS, avionics)

  8. Z Suit Approach • Mobility is key • As near nude body as possible • Increase crew productivity • Decrease mental and physical fatigue • Safety is critical • Reduced mechanisms and likelihood of use related injury • Increase structural margins • Weight is important • Reduce the weight for vehicle launch mass and EVA on back • Durability is required • Assuming 3 year Mars mission • Minimize maintenance

  9. Z Suit Key Features • Rear Entry Suit • Test bed for suitport hardware concept • Incorporates enhancements from previous ILC suit builds • Each version builds on previous (Z1, Z2, Z3) • Planetary walking suit – mobility • 8.3 psi versus 4.3 psi ISS EMU • Each version raises TRL

  10. Z1 Space Suit • Z1 Suit features • Walking capability; different gravity fields • Ranging from Mars to microgravity • Rear entry • Improve donning; safety • Suit port compatible • Don pressurized suit; keep dust outside • Higher (8.3psi) pressure • address bends risk; increase efficiency • Soft upper torso, brief • Lower cost; weight (126#)

  11. Z1 Precursers • Original ILC I-Suit (I for ILC) • being tested on zero-G flight • Circa 1998 • Soft upper torso; brief • 8 psi • Bottom entry • Lightweight (77#) • Rear Entry I-Suit (REI-Suit) • being tested at Desert Rats • Circa 2005 • Soft upper torso; brief • 8 psi • Rear Entry • Lightweight (84#)

  12. Z1 Space Suit • Accolades: • Z1 named one of Time Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2012 • The Z-1 space suit provides go-anywhere garb featuring more-flexible joints, …and a hatch on the back that allows the suit to dock with a portal on a spacecraft or rover so an astronaut can crawl through without letting dust in or air out.

  13. Z2 Precursors • Mark III Zero Pre-breathe Suit (ZPS) • Original MkIII delivered to NASA 1990 • Modified MkIII at Desert Rats 2005 • Hard upper torso, brief; hybrid shoulder • 8.3 psi

  14. Z1 and Z2 Differences • Soft versus hard elements • Z1 has soft upper torso, brief • Z2 has these elements made of advanced composites • Intent is to increase durability • TRL • Z1 undergoing Earth atmosphere testing • Z2 will undergo human vacuum testing • Increased Z2 requirements, goals, testing • Kick loads • Anti-microbial material use • Range of motion testing at 8.3 psi • Mass • Z1, 126# • Z2, 140# goal (with Suit Port Interface Plate)

  15. Suit Port Concept

  16. Cover Layer/ PR GO VOTE NOW: http://jscfeatures.jsc.nasa.gov/z2/

  17. Z2 Team • Devilsfork Consulting/ Joe Kosmo • AMA – bearing analysis • Wolverine – boot design • UD CCM – composite design/ analysis • Airlock – bearing design/manufacture • Philadelphia University School of Design – Cover

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