Nasa Questions

1. Why wear a space suit?

There is no atmospheric pressure and no oxygen in outer space to sustain life. Inside the spacecraft, the atmosphere can be controlled so that special clothing isn't needed, but when outside, humans need the protection of a space suit. Besides providing protection from bombardment by micrometeoroids, the space suit insulates the wearer from the temperature extremes of space.

2.Why are space suits white in color?

White reflects heat in space, the same as it does here on Earth. Temperatures in direct sunlight in space can be over 275 °Fahrenheit.

3.
Who is the prime NASA contractor for the design, development, and manufacture of space suits?
ILC Dover, Inc.

4.What does EMU stand for?

Extravehicular mobility unit

5.Describe the U.S. Navy Mark IV pressure suit.

The Mark IV Pressure Suit is a forerunner of the space suit. It was originally developed for the crew of high-flying aircraft. It was made of aluminum-coated nylon and rubber garments.

6.Which space suits were composed of one piece?

Apollo space suits

7.What were the goals of the Apollo mission?

The Apollo Program spanned 5 years, from 1967 to 1972, and included 12 manned flights. Apollo’s goals went beyond landing Americans on the Moon and returning them safely to Earth. The goals included:

To establish the technology to meet other national interests in space
To achieve preeminence in space for the United States
To develop man’s capability to work in the lunar environment


8.Describe the Apollo space suit.

The Apollo space suit was designed to allow astronauts to venture outside of the spacecraft. Apollo space suit mobility was improved over earlier suits by use of molded rubber joints at the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees. Modifications to the suit waist for Apollo 15 through 17 missions added flexibility making it easier for crewmen to sit on the lunar rover vehicle.
From the skin out, the Apollo A7LB space suit began with an astronaut-worn liquid-cooling garment, similar to a pair of long johns with a network of spaghetti-like tubing sewn onto the fabric. Cool water, circulating through the tubing, transferred metabolic heat from the Moon explorer's body to the backpack and into space.
Apollo space helmets were formed from high strength polycarbonate and were attached to the space suit by a pressure-sealing neck-ring. Unlike Mercury and Gemini helmets, which were closely fitted and moved with the crewman's head, the Apollo helmet was fixed, and the head was free to move within. While walking on the Moon, Apollo crewmen wore an outer visor assembly over the helmet to shield against eye damaging ultraviolet radiation and to maintain head and face thermal comfort.
Completing the Moon explorer's ensemble were lunar gloves and boots, both designed for the rigors of exploring, and the gloves for adjusting sensitive instruments. The new Apollo space suit was the first to have its own life support system rather than being dependent on an umbilical connection to the spacecraft.

9.
What were the goals of the Gemini mission?

The second U.S. manned space program was announced in January 1962. Its two-man crew gave it its name, Gemini, for the third constellation of the Zodiac and its twin stars, Castor and Pollux. Gemini involved 12 flights, including two unmanned flight tests of the equipment. Its major objectives were:
To subject man and equipment to space flight up to 2 weeks in duration
To rendezvous and dock with orbiting vehicles and to maneuver the docked combination by using the target vehicle's propulsion system
To perfect methods of entering the atmosphere and landing at a preselected point on land