Keith’s note: In case you missed it while the Starliner thruster issue has been in the headlines, yet another EVA was canceled due to a spacesuit issue. First there was a problem with a suit’s comfort/flexibility. Then there was a water leak the other day. Scratch two EVA attempts. These suits are 50-ish years old – older than some of the astronauts who wear them. Now NASA is going to the Moon for long duration stays and new space suits are needed. Axiom and Collins had xEVAS contracts. Now Collins has decided to discontinue their work leaving only one company to produce the new spacesuits. Redundancy in terms of suppliers has been a smart thing that NASA has been doing. Now they will have only one spacesuit option and if it is delayed then that becomes a big pacing item for the whole Artemis thing – as if there are not already enough of those.

NASA OIG: NASA’s Development of Next-Generation Spacesuits, NASA OIG “NASA’s current schedule is to produce the first two flight-ready xEMUs by November 2024, but the Agency faces significant challenges in meeting this goal. This schedule includes approximately a 20-month delay in delivery for the planned design, verification, and testing suit, two qualification suits, an ISS Demo suit, and two lunar flight suits. These delays- attributable to funding shortfalls, COVID-19 impacts, […]

NASA Invites Media to Events Highlighting Spacesuits for Moon to Mars “Media are invited to NASA Headquarters in Washington Tuesday, Oct. 15 to get an up-close look at the next generation spacesuits the first woman and next man to explore the Moon will wear as part of the agency’s Artemis program. The public event will take place at 2 p.m. EDT and feature NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, who will host […]

NASA Takes Grassroots Approach To Future Spacesuits, Aviation Week “There are spacesuits. And then there are spacesuits.” “NASA’s most successful have been very much safety- and mission-driven. Some have been worn inside a spacecraft during launch and entry in case of decompression, to enable mission abort and astronaut rescue.”

Keith’s note: There are thousands – millions of people like this guy. If NASA can expand its efforts to attract and encourage this sort of enthusiasm – at all age levels – then there is no limit to where NASA – America – can go in space.

What will astronauts wear on moonwalks in 5 years? We're currently working on options for our #Moon2024 mission + beyond. We'll have a transition suit for 1st mission + modern spacesuit designs for astronauts to explore the lunar surface & help create our sustainable lunar future pic.twitter.com/HhDyvIC1L1 — NASA (@NASA) May 1, 2019 Keith’s note: I sent this request to NASA PAO: With regard to this @NASA tweet: “Will the […]

If true, more evidence #moon2024 is a political stunt designed to help Trump win re-election instead of a serious plan to help America. https://t.co/EeHvDQOB95 — brianweeden (@brianweeden) May 1, 2019 We will have EVA suits, get out, and do meaningful work. — Jim Bridenstine (@JimBridenstine) May 1, 2019 NASA OIG: NASA’s Management and Development of Spacesuits “NASA continues to manage an array of design and health risks associated with the […]

NASA Spacewalk Mishap Investigation Board Report “While I am concerned about ensuring this particular incident does not happen again, I am especially concerned about cultural factors that may have contributed to the event. In our exuberance to get the job done, we may have allowed ourselves to accept the commonly accepted causes for small anomalies. We have a responsibility not to move on from any abnormal situation until we understand […]

Keith’s note: I do not think suicide is funny – under any circumstance. Yet this photo essay makes a point – and it uses a powerful iconic image of an anonymous person in a spacesuit in an exaggerated fashion to make that point. A lot of people are rather depressed and demoralized right now with the retirement of the Space Shuttle. Entire careers have come to an abrupt end. Yet […]