We’ve all seen photos of astronauts wearing those big bulky white space suits on spacewalks. Technically they’re called Extravehicular Mobility Units. What we don’t often see is how astronauts put those things on.
The process involves a lot of layers. You start with a diaper (yes, really), then cotton long-johns, then a liquid cooling suit, then the “Snoopy Cap” with dual microphones, then cotton gloves, onward to miscellaneous pads (including shoulder pads), then finally the actual big white suit (which goes on legs first, then the top part, then the helmet, then the gloves).
It’s a heck of a lot of work.
In this video, Norm from Tested visits NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Lab to check out the whole process. For bonus points, he checks out a bunch of space tools used to work in zero-G—safely tethered to the astronaut, of course. This is dozens of small steps for men. And women. Behold:
Further viewing: the Tested image gallery featuring NASA’s EMU.
October 2, 2016 – 12:00pm