Collins Aerospace

The developers of a next - generation NASA spacesuit lately reached a key design milepost , the place agency describe on Monday .

Collins Aerospace is building the new suit for spacewalks outside the International Space Station ( ISS ) , and it has now successfully tested its fit and functionality in a microgravity - like surroundings during an airplane flight .

Collins Aerospace testing its new spacesuit.

Collins Aerospace

NASA divvy up footage ( below ) of the test , which shows the spacesuit being worn during brief periods of lightness produce by an aircraft perform hair curler - coaster - same manoeuvre . The footage shows the spacesuit wearer simulating of the essence tactical maneuver similar to those conducted by astronauts aboard the ISS , such as climbing through a hatch .

In society to advance@NASA ’s spacewalking capabilities in low Earth eye socket and to abide continued maintenance and operations at the@Space_Station , NASA is getting a next - generation spacesuit !

modernise by@CollinsAero , the company has been make advance on the intention of its…pic.twitter.com/V1zt3yV5SS

& mdash ; NASA's Johnson Space Center ( @NASA_Johnson)February 12 , 2024

NASA account the psychometric test as a “ key footmark ” in its preliminary design reexamination process to ensure that it meets all system requisite before manufacture the suit of clothes begins .

“ The trial take into account us to test specific objectives of the excogitation that can back a broad range of crewmember sizes and crew labor in a controlled environment,”saidPeggy Guirgis , general managing director of space scheme at Collins Aerospace .

The team will continue to test the next - gen spacesuit in a vacuum chamber to gather more datum on how well it performs in a space - similar ambience .

It will also be tested in NASA ’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory , a 40 - pes - deep , water - filled poolat the distance agency ’s Johnson Space Center in Houston , which simulates a microgravity environment for spacewalk education .

“ This next - generation spacesuit is designed to advance NASA ’s spacewalking capableness in low Earth orbit,”the agency saidon its website on Monday . “ It is being developed to plunk for station maintenance and surgical procedure as NASA and its international partner continue carrying out scientific research that profit humanity and demonstrates new technologies for next human and automatic missions . ”

The suit currentlyused by ISS spaceman for spacewalkshas remain for the most part unchanged in the station ’s lifetime of more than 20 year . While it ’s performed well over the days , NASA wants to build something lighter and more comfy that uses the late technology .