Did you know that astronaut space suits are actually small individual spaceships? What for most people is considered a sophisticated garment for use in space, by scientists is called "Extravehicular Mobility Unit".
You heard, a fully equipped spacesuit is a unit designed to allow astronauts mobility in high-risk operations, whether carrying out experiments outside space stations or repairing telescopes such as Hubble.
Its fundamental mission is to protect astronauts, providing them with the means of survival necessary to carry out their work effectively, guaranteeing some comfort.
And what are these means of survival, asks the listener? First, the suits provide the oxygen they need to breathe and the water to keep them hydrated. They protect astronauts against extreme temperatures, which can reach minus 120 degrees or, in the presence of sunlight, more than minus 120 degrees.
They also have a particular visor that attenuates the accentuated glare of sunlight. They also protect us from the effects of radiation and possible impacts from space dust that travels at high speeds and can collide with them, putting cosmonauts at risk.
So, what is the material used in the manufacture of facts, so that man can survive and work in such hostile conditions? There are several materials, including plain nylon, nylon coated with neoprene and urethane, which are ultra resistant and insulating elastic polymers, aluminated Mylar, a special polyester with light-reflecting properties, and Dracon, another polyester widely used in manufacture of synthetic fibers with high tensile strength.
Stainless steel is also part of the metallic constituents that allow the joining of all components. And what other components are these that will be interconnected with the reinforced coating to make it fully functional?
There are several, including fuel tanks, protective gloves, manual controllers, maneuvering rockets and many other devices that guarantee the safety of astronauts and facilitate their work.
As a curiosity, did you know that astronauts' suits weigh around 128 kilograms and in space, due to their diminished gravity, they weigh practically zero? If you want more information about this and other spatial themes, you can consult the website www.nasa.gov.
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