SPACE SCIENCE

DIFFERENT KINDS OF SPACESUITS

Earlier, astronauts had only one type of spacesuit, but today they were different types of suits for different activities. For instance, there is a light-weight spacesuit for working in the space station, a special spacesuit for the to-and-fro flight, and an air-sealed one for using outside the spaceship. The spacesuits for walking in space comprise many layers of plastics and textiles. Coolant runs through the tubes in the innermost layer, which protects the astronauts against overheating during strenuous work. A middle layer maintains the inside pressure against the extremely low pressure of the empty space. Without the spacesuit the air would escape from the lungs of the astronauts, and the body cells would burst. The outermost layer is resistant and fireproof. It protects against small meteorites and space debris. A breathing apparatus provides oxygen and takes care of disposing exhaled air.

Astronauts mostly carry a backpack with rockets on their back, which helps in their forward movement. A camera placed on their shoulders takes pictures, and the headphones and microphones integrated in the helmet help in communicating with the station located back on the Earth and the spaceship.