Design and Testing of a Fault-tolerant Space Suit
- Paper number
IAC-19,E2,2,9,x55204
- Author
Mr. Johnie Sublett, United States, Georgia Institute of Technology
- Year
2019
- Abstract
Current space suit technologies rely on gas-retaining liners to maintain their breathing atmosphere and proper body pressurization. Planetary environments will be much more demanding, with surface suits requiring greater flexibility for the wearer, higher durability in harsh environments, and lower energy expenditure during use. Although some solutions have been proposed to improve the effectiveness of contemporary suits for long-term surface operations, there still remains a risk of asphyxiation due to accidental suit puncture, especially along the limbs. Much of this risk can be mitigated through the implementation of two systems: a sensor array that is able to detect the location of a suit puncture along limb sections; and a series of emergency inflatable cuffs capable of producing air-tight seals at strategic points along the body. Thus, most potential suit ruptures can be reasonably mitigated, with vacuum exposure limited to the damaged section. As pressure is maintained throughout the rest of the suit, asphyxiation is avoided, and physiological effects are mostly limited to local edema, greatly increasing the time available to repair the rupture and/or re-enter a pressurized habitat. In this work, the two required systems are designed, implemented, and tested. Methods for integrating this technology into existing suit concepts are also discussed.
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-19,E2,2,9,x55204.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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