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Video: NASA's next-gen space suit back on track
It seems like only yesterday that we were hearing about Paragon's designs for greenhouses on the lunar surface (but that's because it was yesterday). Now we've been hepped to the fact that the company is teaming up with Oceaneering International to overhaul NASA's space suit. The last that we heard, the project had been scuttled altogether, but you know how quickly things can be unscuttled when the White House changes hands. The Constellation Space Suit System (CSSS) will be designed in a modular fashion, so that the same suit can be used by the astronaut for all the different aspects of his / her mission. You can look forward to the stylish debut of these bad boys on the new Orion spaceship, currently planned to launch in 2015. According to Engineering TV, this will be the first major space suit redesign in over forty years. Can we make a suggestion? Please don't do anything to that iconic NASA logo -- some things never go out of style. Video after the break.
Next-gen NASA spacesuit contract mothballed
It may be true that no one can hear you scream in space, but we'd be wagering that a whole lot of people can hear the yelling coming out of Houston-based Oceaneering International, Inc., who just lost their two month old $745 million NASA contract to build the next-gen space suit. Of course, the bid was not without its fair share of bitching and moaning by competing contractors (apparently long time space suit-makers Hamilton Sundstrand and ILC Dover made a big stink after the contract was awarded to their upstart competitor), but them's the breaks when your gear's headed to space. Too bad though, we were really looking forward to the gear -- especially since now we have absolutely nothing to wear to the astro-prom.
NASA's new suits are one giant leap for space fashion
NASA just awarded its future spacesuit contract to Oceaneering International. The US firm must now design, test, and produce two suits -- the default suit (pictured after the break) worn on-board for launch and landing and a second, more versatile, cheese-proof suit worn during space walks and upon the surface of the moon. The suits must be ready for the first scheduled launch of the Orion Space Capsule in 2015. The contract is valued at the government special price of just $745 million. Hey, we have to keep up appearances at the International Space Station, you know.
