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Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

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At least 37 records · Page 2

Standard Testing Procedure for Quantifying Breathing Gas Carbon Dioxide Partial Pressure for Extravehicular Activity and Launch, Entry, Survival Pressure Suits

This standard test and analysis protocol establishes the procedure for determining the partial pressure of inspired carbon dioxide (PICO2) exposure level experienced by persons operating a pressurized suit. The purpose of this Standard Testing Procedure (STP) is to describe the test conditions and procedures necessary to acquire data in support of certification that manufacturer submitted Extravehicular Activity (EVA) and/or Launch, Entry, Survival (LES) suit designs maintain safe levels of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the helmet during suited operations. The STP shall be used to measure the in-suit inhaled and exhaled dry-gas partial pressure of CO2 (PCO2), followed by calculation of the water vapor saturated PICO2 during the inhalation portion of the breathing cycle, while a human test subject is performing work at levels anticipated during suited operations in ground and flight environments. The procedure is designed to test the evaluated suit on a human test subject as a dynamic system, generate repeatable results under defined laboratory conditions, and perform consistent analysis on acquired samples.This STP is used to evaluate space suits in a hyperbaric environment (above atmospheric pressure). Changes would need to be made to the test equipment/setup to accommodate a hypobaric environment. There is no specific EVA or LES suit performance requirement to meet or pass/fail criteria associated with this STP.

Bekdash, Omar↗

New Apparatus Tests Pressure-Suit Joints

New apparatus measures applied torque and angle-of-flexure in pressurized flexible joints, such as those found in diving suits and flight suits. Torque and flexure are permanently recorded on x-y plotter. Family of curves can be taken as function of suit pressure or other variables. Apparatus could also measure torque-versus-angle in mechanical linkages.

Vykukal, H. C.↗

Minimum pressure for a zero-prebreathe pressure suit

There are two current approaches to reducing the risk of decompression sickness during repeated extravehicular activity (EVA) without prebreathing 100 percent oxygen. One approach suggests the use of different pressures in the transfer vehicle, the station, and the suit. The other would use advanced pressure-suit technology to build a suit that will make different pressures unnecessary provided the bends-free suit pressure is reasonable and can be readily determined. Research at the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine since November 1982 has been directed at determining this suit pressure using human subjects at simulated altitudes of 16,500 to 10,000 feet (7.8 to 10 psia). An earlier report of this ongoing research showed that bends is not totally eliminated at 7.8 psia. The present study is a continuation of this effort to define a 'bends-free' suit pressure with the initial results suggesting that this pressure begins at around 9.5 psia (from a 14.7 psia station).

Krutz, R. W., Jr.↗

Your space suit and you - Significance of manloading in pressure suit design

Data collection on man-induced loads borne by space suits is discussed, with emphasis on the glove area. The distinction between the 'potential' maximum manload (measured according to the 95 percentile male outside the suit), and the actual manload experienced by the suit or 'limit manload', is stressed. Limit manload data for the glove were collected using a glove with finger and metacarpal joints and a hard shell to support strain gages. Potential manload data are theorized to exceed the limit manload (as corroborated by entire suit limit load data presented for the Apollo and Shuttle suits) because of load sharing within the fabric configuration, test inputs being at values other than 95 percentile values, and the restraint line acting like a spring and preventing the load from being induced. This, however, is not borne out by the glove test data, illustrating the difficulty of measuring the man/machine interface. Design load is determined by adding he pressure load and the limit load after compensations have been made for load splitting. Finally, a method for better testing, used in the design of an improved mobility glove for the Space Shuttle program, is presented.

Rouen, M.↗

A flight-rated liquid-cooled garment for use within a full-pressure suit

A flight rated liquid cooled garment system for use inside a full pressure suit has been designed, fabricated, and tested. High temperature tests with this system have indicated that heat is absorbed at a rate decreasing from 224 kg-cal/hr to 143 kg-cal/hr over a 40-min period. The first 30 min are very comfortable; thereafter a gradual heat load builds that results in mild sweating at the end of the 40-min period. In flight tests during hot weather when this cooling system was worn under a regulation flight suit, the pilot reported that temperatures were comfortable and that the garment prevented sweating.

Carpenter, R.↗

Pressure suit joint analyzer

A measurement system for simultaneously measuring torque and angular flexure in a pressure suit joint is described. One end of a joint under test is held rigid. A torque transducer is pivotably supported on the other movable end of a joint. A potentiometer is attached to the transducer by an arm. The wiper shaft of the potentiometer is gripped by a reference arm that rotates the wiper shaft the same angle as the flexure of joint. A signal is generated by the potentiometer which is representative of the joint flexure. A compensation circuit converts the output of the transducer to a signal representative of joint torque.

Vykukal, H. C.↗

NASA Advanced Space Suit Pressure Garment System Status and Development Priorities 2019

This paper discusses the current focus of NASA's Advanced Space Suit Pressure Garment Technology Development team's efforts, the status of that work, and a summary of longer term technology development priorities and activities. The Exploration Extra-vehicular Activity Unit (xEMU) project's International Space Station Demonstration Suit (xEMU Demo) project continues to be the team's primary customer and effort. In 2018 the team was engaged in addressing hardware design changes identified in the Z-2 pressure garment prototype Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) test results. These changes will be discussed. Additionally components whose first iterations were produced in 2018 will be discussed. A full pressure garment prototype, termed Z-2.5, was assembled that is composed of updated and first prototype iteration hardware. Z-2.5 NBL testing, performed from October 2018 through April 2019 will inform final design iterations in preparation for the xEMU Demo preliminary design review planned to occur in the third quarter of government fiscal year 2019. A primary objective of the Z-2.5 NBL testing is to validate changes made to the hard upper torso geometry, which depart from the planetary walking suit upper torso geometry that has been used over the last 30 years. The team continues to work technology development, with GFY2018 work being used to supplement and feed the gaps left by the scope defined for the xEMU Demo. Specifically, a Phase IIx Small Business Innovative Research Grant to mature durable bearings that are compatible with a dust environment and a grant funded by the Science Technology Mission Directorate, Lightweight and Robust Exploration Space Suit (LARESS) project, to mature planetary impact requirements and hardware will be described. Finally, a brief review of longer-term pressure garment challenges and technology gaps will be presented to provide an understanding of the advanced pressure garment team's technology investment priorities and needs.

Ross, Amy↗

NASA Advanced Space Suit Pressure Garment System Status 2023

This paper discusses the current focus of NASA’s Advanced Space Suit Pressure Garment Technology Development team’s efforts, the status of that work, and a summary of longer term technology development priorities and activities. The Exploration Extra-vehicular Activity Mobility Unit (xEMU) has been the team’s primary effort over the past several years. ICES papers in 2022 detailed the design of the xEMU pressure garment components. This paper outlines the design updates to the xPGS since that time. More notably, this paper documents the various tests executed with the xPGS to evaluate its performance, durability, and acceptability for microgravity and Lunar missions. An overview of ongoing and planned xEMU testing and training is provided. The PGS team’s transition from xEMU development and testing, to supporting the Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services (xEVAS) vendors will also be discussed. In addition, technology development efforts in coordination with the EVA and Human Surface Mobility Program (EHP), the NASA Engineering Safety Council (NESC) and the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Program will be discussed in the context of supporting sustaining EVA operations on the Lunar surface over the coming decade. Finally, a brief review of longer-term pressure garment challenges and technology gaps will be presented to provide an understanding of the advanced pressure garment team’s technology investment priorities and needs.

spacesuit↗

NASA Advanced Space Suit Pressure Garment System Status and Development Priorities 2022

This paper discusses the current focus of NASA’s Advanced Space Suit Pressure Garment Technology Development team’s efforts, the status of that work, and a summary of longer-term technology development priorities and activities. For the past two years, the team has focused on the development and detailed design of the Extra-vehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) to support two parallel missions: A 2023 deadline for delivery of the xEMU International Space Station (ISS)Demonstration configuration, and a planetary walking suit configuration to support landing on the Moon in 2024. The baselined design of the xEMU will be reviewed. The results of Design Verification Testing (DVT) will be presented and its ability to provide confidence in the hardware’s ability to meet flight requirements will be discussed. To the extent possible, an impact assessment of the Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services (xEVAS) Contract will be provided. Finally, a brief review of longer-term pressure garment challenges and technology gaps will be presented to provide an understanding of the advanced pressure garment team’s technology investment priorities and needs for future exploration missions.

xEMU↗

NASA Advanced Space Suit Pressure Garment System Status and Development Priorities 2022

This paper discusses the current focus of NASA’s Advanced Space Suit Pressure Garment Technology Development team’s efforts, the status of that work, and a summary of longer-term technology development priorities and activities. For the past two years, the team has focused on the development and detailed design of the Extra-Vehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) to support two parallel missions: A 2023 deadline for delivery of the xEMU International Space Station (ISS) Demonstration configuration, and a planetary walking suit configuration to support landing on the Moon in 2024. The baselined design of the xEMU will be reviewed. The results of Design Verification Testing (DVT) will be presented and its ability to provide confidence in the hardware’s ability to meet flight requirements will be discussed. To the extent possible, an impact assessment of the Exploration Extra-Vehicular Activity Services (xEVAS) Contract will be provided. Finally, a brief review of longer-term pressure garment challenges and technology gaps will be presented to provide an understanding of the advanced pressure garment team’s technology investment priorities and needs for future exploration missions.

NASA↗