Advanced Materials for Future Lunar Extravehicular Activity Space Suit

Abstract

This review focuses on advanced materials already used and suitable for application in (future) lunar extravehicular activity space suits. A historical and current literature/market survey is presented. Different functional layers of an astronaut garment are defined with emphasis on the external layers subjected to abrasive action of lunar regolith and degradation via exposure to space radiation/vacuum environment. Requirements are defined that would need to be fulfilled by these layers and suitable materials candidates are reviewed based on their key properties, including mechanical durability. Smart materials, combining additional functionalities, such as garment health monitoring, are also considered. The lead topic is the subject of an ongoing ESA‐funded research activity.

Facile Preparation of Continuous and Porous Polyimide Aerogel Fibers for Multifunctional Applications

“…Accordingly, advanced thermal insulation textiles that can operate reliably in harsh environments have attracted significant attention for their utilization in emerging applications. For example, highly flexible and thermally insulative fiber-based textiles under both high- and low-vacuum conditions are promising insulation candidates for the space suits. , In addition, lightweight textile thermal barriers are urgently needed on the Mars rover to keep the rover electronics at a relatively steady temperature during the approximately 100 °C variations in temperature during the change from Martian day to night and back . In our daily life, effective thermal protection is also crucial for personal safety, especially for people who are always exposed to excessive high- or low-temperature conditions, such as firefighters in fire rescue, steelworkers, divers in deep sea, polar researchers, and so on.…”

Kinetically Tunable, Active Auxetic, and Variable Recruitment Active Textiles from Hierarchical Assemblies

“…Conversely, the actuation contraction of the torque-unbalanced textile (t = 1.8 tpcm) peaked at 4.1 N (Figure 2C-ii, 1.8, y). Under low applied loads (F < 1.8 N, Figure 2C-ii ➊), maximum actuation contraction for the torqueunbalanced active textile did not occur because the applied loads (F) were not sufficient to overcome either the martensitic or austenitic critical buckling force for the textile (P t,m , P t,a , Equations (3)- (5). Consequently, only partial loop rotation occurred upon actuation.…”

“…[1][2][3] Active textiles, or textiles that exhibit mechanical actuation, are critical to advancing these multifunctional applications. On-demand tunability of a textile's mechanical properties, dynamic variation in surface topography, as well as macroscopic shape change can enable a wide range of innovations across industrial, biomedical, consumer, and aerospace domains, including variable-stiffness human-system interfaces, [3] morphing compression garments, [4] lunar activity space suits, [5] self-fitting clothing, [6] compact and conforming haptic interfaces, [7,8] and mobility assistance devices. [9,10] The multi-level hierarchy of textiles presents a vast opportunity for technological innovation.…”

Study on the Design of Space Gloves and EVA Suits with Future Challenges

“…Early spacesuits were made of soft materials, but they combined hard and soft components to provide today's support, mobility, and comfort. The spacesuit is made up of 13 layers of materials, including an inner cooling garment (two layers), pressure garment (two layers), TMG (eight layers), and an outer layer (one layer) [13]. Nowadays, spacesuits are sewn or cemented together according to the fit of each astronaut.…”