24.08.2017

Space suits are getting a much-needed style makeover. Elon Musk has posted the first photo of SpaceX’s space suit, which will be worn by astronauts riding in the reusable Dragon crew capsule.

Musk appears to be modelling the sleek white suit himself. It’s designed to be worn during transport in case the capsule depressurises, he said on Instagram. It was “incredibly hard to balance aesethetics and function,” he added.

NASA has three next-generation space suit development projects in the pipeline, but an audit earlier this year found that it may run out of suits before any new ones are ready.

SpaceX has been flying cargo capsules to the International Space Station since 2014 and has pioneered the use of reusable rockets and capsules, but has yet to launch a crewed mission.

The company is due to launch its first crewed mission with NASA in June next year, which could be the first time the suit is put into action. They also plan to send two space tourists on a flight around the moon next year.

Musk eventually hopes to create a colony on Mars, but it is highly likely his first interplanetary mission will be later than his announced target of 2018.

Quelle: NewScientist