Spacesuit or EMU

Posted on by Editorial Team

Space is filled with dangerous radiations. It has no air to breathe and is extremely cold. The astronaut needs protection to survive and work in space.

So, the astronauts wear spacesuits whenever they are exposed to the harsh environment of outer space. The first spacesuit was the Soviet Union SK-1 suit which was worn by Yuri Gargarin in 1961.

A spacesuit is like a one-person spacecraft. Spacesuits supply the astronauts with oxygen to breathe and protect them from extreme temperatures. They guard the astronauts against being injured from small fragments of space dust.

The official name of the spacesuit is the “Extravehicular Mobility Unit or EMU”. Previously, all spacesuits were one-time garments. But now the spacesuit engineers have developed reusable EMU. The cost of a spacesuit is about $11 million.

A spacesuit is the combination of soft and hard components to impart support, mobility, and comfort. The spacesuit has layers of material which includes-

  • Nylon Tricot
  • Spandex-a synthetic fibre with exceptional elasticity
  • Urethane-coated Nylon-a pressure bladder layer
  • Dacron
  • Neoprene-coated Nylon
  • 7 layers of Mylar- a strong polyster aluminized film
  • Gortex- a durable waterproof protection
  • Kevlar-a para-aramid synthetic fiber used in bullet-proof vests
  • Nomex- heat and flame resistant fabric

The suit includes

  • Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (LCVG) – it removes excess body heat produced by the astronaut. Tubes are woven into the suit that covers the entire body and water flows through these tubes to keep the astronaut cool.
  • EMU Electrical Harness (EEH)-  it provides links for communication and bio-instruments.
  • Communications Carrier Assembly (CCA)- it contains earphones and microphones for communications.
  • Maximum Absorption Garment (MAG)- it collects urine produced by the astronaut.
  • Lower Torso Assembly (LTA)- it is the lower half of the suit which includes pants, knee and ankle joints, boots and lower waist.
  • Hard Upper Torso (HUT)- it is hard fiberglass shell that covers the astronaut’s chest and supports structures involving arms, helmet, torso, life-support backpack and control module.
  • Gloves- it has silicon rubber fingertips which allow the astronaut to sense of touch.
    Helmet- it protects astronaut’s head.
  • Extravehicular Visor Assembly (EVA)- it protects the astronauts from bright sunlight.
  • In-suit Drink Bag (IDB)- it provides drinking water for the astronaut.
  • Primary Life Support Subsystem (PLSS)- it provides power, oxygen, carbon dioxide removal, cooling water, warning system and radio equipment.
  • Secondary Oxygen Pack (SOP)- it provides emergency oxygen supply.
  • Display and Control Module (DCM)- it controls the operation of PLSS
  • Simplified Aid for Extravehicular Activity Rescue (SAFER)- it has small thruster jets which help the astronaut to fly back to the space station if he gets separated from it.
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