327:. Early uncrewed tests of the suitport were conducted in June 2012. The first crewed tests of the suitport occurred on 16 and 18 July 2012; during these tests the spacesuit was kept at a pressure of 14.7 psi (1 atm), with the chamber pressure at approximately 6.5 psi (0.44 atm), equivalent to an altitude of 21,000 feet (6,400 m). Future tests were planned for September and August 2012, where NASA planned to keep the spacesuit at a pressure of 8 psi (0.5 atm), and the vacuum chamber at roughly 0 psi (0 atm). Suitports may eventually be tested on the
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particles is about 26% higher than a sphere. The morphologies of dust grains have been classified based upon their four types: 1) spherical; 2) angular blocks; 3) glass shards; and 4) irregular (ropey or Swiss-cheese). These data will assist the medical researchers in their studies of the toxicological effects of inhalation of lunar dust by humans.
190:
Finally, suitports significantly reduce ingress and egress time, and virtually remove the need for pumpdown of the airlock – which normally either results in significant air loss, or requires heavy and complex pumping machinery – as the only volume that needs to be pressurized is that between the
589:
The particle size distribution of the lunar dust from Apollo 17 sample 77051 has been determined using SEM imaging analysis. The size-distribution data features an approximate
Gaussian distribution with a single mode at around 300-nm. The reactivation surface area of highly porous "Swiss-cheese"
186:
When the suit is attached to the vehicle, any dust which may have adhered to the backpack of the suit is sealed between the outside of the backpack and the vehicle-side hatch. Any dust on the suit that is not on the backpack remains sealed outside the vehicle. Likewise, the suitport prevents
199:
Disadvantages of suitports include the additional mass of the interface on the rear of the space suit which may be more than 4.5 kilograms (9.9 lb), and increased mechanical complexity, potentially reducing the overall reliability of the EVA system. According to NASA's
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cabin, which was then depressurized to allow them to exit the vehicle. Upon the end of EVA, the astronauts would re-enter the cabin in their suits, bringing with them a great deal of dust which had adhered to the suits. Several astronauts reported a
98:
To re-enter the vehicle, the astronaut backs up to the suitport and seals the suit to the vehicle, before opening the hatch and backpack and transferring back into the vehicle. If the vehicle and suit do not operate at the same
116:
Suitports carry three major advantages over traditional airlocks. First, the mass and volume required for a suitport is significantly less than that required for an airlock. Launch mass is at a premium in modern
266:
in 1962. The suitport concept was suggested for use in the Soviet crewed Moon program. A patent for a suitport was first filed in 1980 in the Soviet Union, by Isaak
Abramov of Zvezda and Yuri Nazarov of CKBM.
618:
While hailed as a potential source of oxygen and metals, Moon dust is a concern because doctors fear the smallest grains could lodge in astronauts' lungs, possibly causing long-term health effects.
148:, and adheres readily to any surface with which it comes into contact, a problem magnified by the sharp, barb-like shapes of the dust particles. Lunar dust may be harmful in several ways:
95:
and the vehicle's hatch (which seals to the backpack for dust containment). The astronaut then unseals and separates the suit from the vehicle, and is ready to perform an EVA.
55:
surface exploration. Suitports present advantages over traditional airlocks in terms of mass, volume, and ability to mitigate contamination by—and of—the local environment.
320:
274:. Further patents were filed in 1996 by Philip Culbertson Jr., and in 2003 by Joerg Boettcher, Stephen Ransom, and Frank Steinsiek.
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vehicle hatch and the life-support backpack, and even that only as needed for repair, decontamination, or refitting of the suit.
868:
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before doffing. A suitport prototype built by Brand
Griffin has been used in a simulated lunar gravity test on board
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first enters the suit feet-first from inside the pressurized environment, and closes and seals the space suit
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Possible requirement for suit donning at 8 pounds per square inch (0.54 atm) with relaxed man-loads
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hazardous materials vehicle, where the use of the suitport eliminates the need to decontaminate the
183:" smell and respiratory or eye irritation upon opening their helmets and being exposed to the dust.
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The dust may damage coatings used on gaskets, optical lenses, solar panels, windows, and wiring.
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The abrasive nature of the dust particles may rub and wear down surfaces through friction.
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448:"Apparatus and method for putting on a protective suit — United States Patent 6959456"
246:
857:
649:"Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, Lunar Architecture Update, AIAA Space 2007"
607:
369:
364: – Planned lander spacecraft component of NASA's cancelled Project Constellation
103:, it will be necessary to equalize the two pressures before the hatch can be opened.
72:
277:
As of 1995, suitports have found a practical, terrestrial application as part of a
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contamination of the external environment by microbes carried by the astronaut.
174:
During the Apollo missions, the astronauts donned their space suits inside the
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A US patent for a suitport was first filed in 1987 by Marc M. Cohen of NASA's
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84:
508:
Proceedings of the NASA/USRA Advanced Design
Program 7th Summer Conference
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100:
44:
673:
52:
731:. Houston, Texas: American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics
446:
Boettcher, Joerg; Stephen Ransom; Frank
Steinsiek (17 July 2003).
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26:
18:
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The dust may cause damage to astronauts' lungs, similarly to
132:
Secondly, suitports can eliminate or minimize the problem of
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components, introducing challenges for achieving an optimal
834:"Coming to a center near you: Advanced Exploration Systems"
423:"Suitlock docking mechanism — United States Patent 5697108"
349: – Cancelled 2005–2010 NASA human spaceflight program
215:
Greater difficulty for incapacitated crewmembers to ingress
23:
A test disconnect from a suitport mockup during field tests
575:"Micro-Morphology And Toxicological Effects Of Lunar Dust"
47:, designed for use in hazardous environments including in
698:. United States Patent and Trademark Office. 27 June 1988
633:
Abramov, Isaak P.; Skoog, Ingemar A. (23 November 2003).
355: – Concepts for extended human presence on the Moon
16:
Alternative technology to enable extravehicular activity
387: – Proposed concepts for human settlements on Mars
374:
Pages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
357:
Pages displaying short descriptions of redirect targets
315:
Testing has been taking place in combination with the
674:"Lunokhod, Obama, Yuri Nazarov and Russian stupidity"
472:"Docking Fixture and Mechanism for a Protective Suit"
129:
60,000 per kilogram delivered to the lunar surface.
31:
An astronaut entering a spacesuit through a suitport
628:
626:
466:
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343: – Exploration of space, planets, and moons
67:is attached and sealed against the outside of a
604:"Lint rollers may collect dangerous Moon dust"
573:Park, J.S.; Y. Liu; K. D. Kihm; L. A. Taylor.
372: – Structure and composition of the Moon
8:
580:. Lunar and Planetary Science XXXVII (2006)-
416:
414:
412:
399: – Type of spacecraft with one occupant
312:has two suitports on the back of the craft.
300:projects aimed at achieving a return to the
729:Life Sciences and Space Medicine Conference
441:
439:
204:, disadvantages of suitports also include:
696:"Suitport extra-vehicular access facility"
554:"Moon Dust is Seriously Harmful to Humans"
510:. University of Colorado. pp. 123–132
393: – Space suit for the Martian surface
319:inside NASA's human-rated thermal vacuum
296:Suitports may find use as part of future
221:Likely requirement for some back-mounted
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797:
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637:. Springer Science & Business Media.
533:"Lunar Explorers Face Moon Dust Dilemma"
242:Space suit docked to rover with suitport
526:
524:
408:
262:rear entry space suit was developed at
250:Suitport concept being tested with the
202:Exploration Systems Mission Directorate
421:Culbertson, Philip Jr. (1996-09-30).
7:
832:Williams, Catherine (August 2011).
531:David, Leonard (November 7, 2006).
63:In a suitport system, a rear-entry
43:is an alternative technology to an
807:"ISS Update: Testing the Suitport"
720:Cohen, Marc M. (April 3–5, 1995).
14:
501:"Earth to Lunar CELSS Evolution"
166:, leading to conditions such as
813:from the original on 2021-12-21
782:from the original on 2021-12-21
756:from the original on 2021-12-21
750:"ISS Update: Suitport Testing"
381: – Settlement on the Moon
79:, facing outward. To begin an
1:
602:Young, Kelly (6 March 2007).
140:, it was discovered that the
107:Advantages and disadvantages
329:International Space Station
223:Primary Life Support System
890:
304:and crewed exploration of
210:technology readiness level
125:, at an estimated cost of
722:"The Suitport's progress"
310:Space Exploration Vehicle
162:, as well as nervous and
397:Single-person spacecraft
379:Colonization of the Moon
81:extra-vehicular activity
450:. freepatentsonline.com
425:. freepatentsonline.com
317:Z-1 prototype spacesuit
252:Z-1 prototype spacesuit
809:. NASA. 19 July 2012.
776:"ISS Update: Suitport"
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164:cardiovascular systems
136:migration. During the
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869:Space suit components
864:Spacecraft components
778:. NASA. 7 June 2012.
752:. NASA. 7 June 2012.
347:Constellation program
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30:
22:
654:. September 20, 2007
385:Colonization of Mars
353:Lunar outpost (NASA)
325:Johnson Space Center
308:. NASA's conceptual
272:Ames Research Center
146:electrically charged
362:Altair (spacecraft)
234:Development and use
212:(TRL) than airlocks
176:Apollo Lunar Module
676:. January 25, 2009
635:Russian Spacesuits
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341:Space exploration
75:, or pressurized
49:human spaceflight
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841:. Retrieved
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678:. Retrieved
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702:17 December
535:. Space.com
283:hazmat suit
858:Categories
843:27 October
735:2008-11-19
613:2008-02-17
584:2007-03-08
539:2008-06-15
514:2006-06-15
486:2006-06-15
454:2006-06-15
429:2006-06-15
404:References
293:aircraft.
264:NPP Zvezda
258:The first
142:lunar soil
112:Advantages
83:(EVA), an
69:spacecraft
65:space suit
391:Mars suit
321:chamber B
279:NASA Ames
181:gunpowder
121:-powered
85:astronaut
59:Operation
53:planetary
811:Archived
780:Archived
754:Archived
335:See also
208:A lower
160:asbestos
101:pressure
93:backpack
41:suitlock
37:suitport
817:27 July
786:28 July
760:27 July
323:at the
254:in 2012
45:airlock
839:. NASA
837:(PDF)
725:(PDF)
652:(PDF)
578:(PDF)
504:(PDF)
291:C-135
77:rover
845:2011
819:2012
788:2012
762:2012
704:2012
682:2010
660:2012
480:NASA
306:Mars
302:Moon
298:NASA
134:dust
127:US$
289:'s
260:EVA
144:is
87:in
39:or
860::
796:^
727:.
712:^
625:^
616:.
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587:.
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506:.
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463:^
438:^
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331:.
71:,
35:A
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