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NASA orders up the next generation in space suits
NASA has just awarded its contract for future spacesuits to Oceaneering International, a company that now has the task of designing and manufacturing the new suits to be worn by our future astronauts as they explore the moon, Mars, and beyond.
The suits are going to be ready for the first launch of the Orion Space Capsule in 2015, and it's going to set back the government a whopping $745 million. Yeah, those are some expensive suits. But hey, you don't want to be arriving on Mars in something you picked up at Men's Warehouse, do you? First impressions are important, after all.
New Scientist, via Engadget
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By Vashnyra at 5:00 PM ON 06/13/08
Far less bulky than current spacesuits to be sure... love the flexible ribbed sections which allow for greater range of motion. By the way, it's "The Men's Wearhouse" not "warehouse". Get it? "Wear" as in you wear the stuff you buy there... :-)
By Cookie Juran at 5:27 PM ON 06/13/08
Well, seeing as they are dependant on these suits for thier safe return home then the heafty price tag is not a real concern. To a point that is, I mean...did you think that you would buy one and ghet one 1/2 price off? LOL
By DROP BEATS NOT BOMBS at 5:45 PM ON 06/13/08
Combat Boots, Clenched Fists? Space Warrior or Astronaut?
By murc at 6:26 PM ON 06/13/08
Drop Beats: "Combat Boots, Clenched Fists? Space Warrior or Astronaut?"
LMAO
By shinyfish at 8:22 PM ON 06/13/08
I like how there is one skinny triangle of black on the crotch, lol.
By Talon92tsi at 1:17 AM ON 06/14/08
Can you say "Major Matt Mason"?
By Sean at 2:13 AM ON 06/14/08
I'd love to know the cost breakdown on the design and development of these suits. $745 million seems incredibly overpriced. Sure custom hardware costs considerably more than an off the shelf counterpart, but with CNC machining just for one tech, it's not like connecting parts will require hand machining. Maybe there's legal issues. So the real cost of the suits is perhaps $10 Million and the legal costs are $735 Million???
That figure seems a bit insane, however it did cost approximately 2 Million for the development of the space pen. (If anyone tells you it cost 12 Million there full of dust).
Sean.
By d4rkn8te at 12:06 PM ON 06/14/08
yeah. i wish they'd end up like mit's. or the one in popular science, the space dive suit. it looks like the real thing except there would probably be a waist bearing.
By Tash at 5:46 PM ON 06/14/08
Ahh, the space pen... "Developed by NASA to write in zero gravity! Nitrogen pressurized to ensure ink flow at any angle!"
The Soviets sent their cosmonauts into space with pencils... Those pencils probably weighed less, too.
By James Rutan at 6:15 AM ON 06/16/08
Well it look good on the out side, but there is on details on the working of the new space suits.
By rboucher at 11:25 AM ON 06/16/08
The estimated total cost of 745 million is including research and development. Think about how many prototypes they will go through to get that one little piece of whatever to function right when X force or condition is applied. Not to mention the included cost of having to pay everyone involved from the start date to delivery date.
For a government contract for HIGH end technology it sounds about right.
By MrcACrl at 5:50 PM ON 06/16/08
I'd've prefered to see the female version of the suit... There are and will be female astronauts too you right?
By kubiaka at 6:43 PM ON 06/16/08
MRCACRL "I'd've prefered to see the female version of the suit... There are and will be female astronauts too you right?"
Are you joking? You think they are actually going to make a different suit for women? The suits will be varying sizes I am sure, but what are you looking for here? Breast bumps in the chest piece? ROFL gimme a break!