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Spacesuit Guidebook is designed
to supplement Spacesuit wall chart
(WAL-114), published by the Educa-
tional Affairs Division, January 1990.
The wall chart depicts Astronuat
Bruce McCandless on his historic first
untethered spacewalk using the
Manned Maneuvering Unit. He flew on
Shuttle mission 41-B (February 3-11,
1984), and ventured 100 meters from
the Shuttle’s cargo bay and returned
Safely.
The guidebook explains in depth
the elements depicted on the wall
Chart in see-through and cut-away
perspectives. Together the wall chart
and guidebook show as well as
explain the inside workings of the
Spacesuit and its various components.
Forty separate elements are identified
with an accompanying numerical
legend. Those elements are further ex-
plained in this guidebook along with
their functions and how they work in
relation to other elements. Additional
chapters discuss essential compo-
nents of the spacesuit such as the
Primary Life Support System and the
Manned Maneuvering Unit, and the
method for donning the spacesult.
The original manuscript for this
guidebook was written by Greg Vogt,
Oklahoma State University. It was
expanded and edited into this format
by Robert Haynes, NASA Headquar-
ters. The oil painting, around which
the wall chart was designed, was
painted by American artist Bruce
Wolfe. Many people assisted in
reviewing this guidebook from the
early stages up to the final booklet.
Special thanks go to Keith Hudkins,
NASA Headquarters, for identifying
the 40 spacesuit components; and to
James Poindexter, Johnson Space
Center for reviewing the manuscript.
PRECEDING PAGE B!ANK NOT FILMED
2
pacesuit components
The EMU is what Space Shuttle systems. Items 1 and 2 are explained around y axis), pitch (2 axis), and
astronauts call their spacesuit. EMU more fully in their own chapters. yaw (xX axis).
stands for Extravehicular Mobility 1. Primary Life Support System . Thruster Lights
Unit. It is what protects astronauts This portable life support system While flying the Manned Maneu-
from the harsh environment of space is an essential component of the vering Unit, the astronaut keeps
Outside the Space Shuttle’s crew spacesuit. It is the backpack unit track of propellant with two
cabin. The EMU includes many that the astronaut is wearing (it is gauges located on either side of
individual components that, when only partially visible in the paint- the helmet’s face plate. An
assembled, form a single spacesuit. ing, shown on either side of the astronaut needs to know how
Making the EMU is an exacting astronaut’s helmet). The life much propellant is left in the unit,
process. Pressure and restraint layers Support system contains all the because when the propellant is
are enclosed by thermal insulating control and monitoring systems gone, the astronaut is no longer
and tear and puncture resistant layers. required to sustain the astronaut’s able to maneuver. The astronaut
One layer’s function is just to keep the life while in space. It supplies needs to keep enough fuel in
astronaut from overheating. Suit oxygen for breathing and for suit reserve to return safely to the
layers are joined to metal connecting pressurization, and cleans carbon Shuttle. Generally, this means an
rings and a hard fiberglass upper dioxide and odors from the air astronaut can use up half the fuel
torso. Each layer and each compo- inside the suit. A tiny built-in to maneuver away from the
nent must pass stringent inspections computer warns the astronaut of Shuttle and keep the remaining
before a human life is entrusted to it. problems. half for the return.
When fully assembled, the EMU 2. Manned Maneuvering Unit Extravehicular Mobility Unit
becomes a nearly complete short- Thruster Lights
term, “soft,” spacecraft for one A series of 24 thrusters is located EMU lights are found on either
person. It provides pressure, thermal, on the Manned Maneuvering Unit side of the astronaut’s helmet and
and micrometeoroid protection, (MMU). The astronaut controls are used to shine light on objects
oxygen, cooling water, drinking water, them with hand controllers at the in space. The small built-in flood
food, waste collection (including ends of the MMU'’s two arms. lamps light up places sunlight and
carbon dioxide removal), electrical (See item 40.) The thrusters may lights in the cargo bay do not
power, and communications. The also be operated automatically by reach. The EMU lights have their
only thing lacking in the EMU is pro- turning on an automatic attitude own battery system and are
pulsion, but this can be added by hold system. Compressed nitro- needed for work in the Shuttle
fitting a gas-jet-propelled Manned Ma- gen is moved through feed lines Cargo bay or for repairing satel-
neuvering Unit. On Earth the suit and to varying combinations oi the 24 lites in space. When the astro-
all its parts weigh about 112 kilo- nozzles. The nozzles are arranged nauts are building the Space
grams. In orbit, they have no weight in clusters of three each on the Station Freedom, the EMU lights
at all, but do retain their mass, which eight corners of the maneuvering will help them assemble the
astronauts feel as a resistance to a unit, and are aimed along three pieces of the Station while in orbit
change in motion. axes perpendicular to each other above Earth.
The list that follows corresponds (x, y, and z) and permit six de- Color Television Camera
to the numerical legend on the wall grees of freedom of movement. The camera’s lens system is
chart. Some items will be self-ex- Movements in space are ex- about the size of a postage stamp,
planatory, while others are parts of plained by the terms roll (rotation and mounted just over the helmet.
Television monitoring is neces- 7. Communications Microphone power from the Shuttle itself. In
sary for certain communications Voice communication with the this manner the “consumables”
with the Shuttle and Mission Shuttle and Mission Control are Stored in the Primary Life Sup-
Control. The camera is situated essential at all times. The micro- port System are conserved
in line of view with the astro- phone inside the helmet con- during the prebreathing activity
naut’s own line of vision and is nects to the radio module located that is needed before an astro-
equipped with its own batteries in the life-support unit of the naut can leave the Shuttle crew
and RF transmitter so that the spacesuit. Covering the astro- cabin. The umbilical remains
crew inside the Shuttle and naut's head is the communica- connected to the spacesuit until
mission controllers on Earth can tions carrier assembly, or the astronaut disconnects it after
get an astronaut’s eye view of the “Snoopy Cap” as it is sometimes moving from the airlock into the
spacewalk. During complicated called. The assembly is a fabric cargo bay. At the time the
Spacewalks, viewers may be able Skull cap with built-in earphones umbilical is released, the space-
to provide assistance. and a microphone for use with walk begins. The Service and
Helmet Solar Shield the spacesuit’s radio. Cooling Umbilical is also used to
Shown in the wall chart as a Ccut- 35mm Still Camera recharge batteries and replenish
away, the solar shield is actually Views of the Shuttle, its cargo consumables.
part of an entire assembly that bay, satellites, Earth, and other 11. Emergency Relief Valve
covers the helmet. The visor as- phenomena are captured for Should the Primary Life Suport
sembly contains a metallic gold- Study by the 35mm camera. The System malfunction, the astro-
coated Sun-filtering visor, a clear camera is attached to the naut can survive for 30-60
thermal impact protection visor, Manned Maneuvering Unit and is minutes by using the secondary
and adjustable blinders that Situated in line of view with the oxygen pack (see chapter 3,
attach over the helmet. These astronaut’s own line of vision. “Primary Life Support System”).
Shields are necessary to protect Camera Switch This system is activated by
astronauts from harmful light The 35mm still camera is oper- Opening the purge valve. This
and radiation emitted by the Sun. ated by a cabled switch con- valve, which has a set of pinch-
The helmet itself is a plastic nected to the camera and the ers on either side of it, allows the
pressure bubble with a neck dis- glove of the EMU. The astronaut astronaut to let some of the
connect ring and ventilation merely needs to press a button pressure Out of the EMU. To
distribution pad. The helmet has on the end of the cable attached activate the valvs, the astronaut
a backup purge valve (for use to his or her glove, and the Simply squeezes the pinchers
with a secondary oxygen pack Camera automatically focuses, with the EMU glove, and air
worn beneath the Primary Life Snaps the picture, and advances pressure is released through the
Support System backpack) and the film for the next picture. tube-like extension on the EMU |
is used to remove expired carbon 10. Spacecraft Life-Support chest plate.
dioxide. (See item 11.) A tube Connector 12. Water Cooling Control Valve
projects into the helmet near the Long before donning the upper The astronaut is able to control
astronaut’s mouth from a plastic half of the EMU, the Shuttle’s his or her body temperature |
water pouch attached inside the Service and Cooling Umbilical is inside the spacesuit by control-
Spacesuit's hard upper torso. plugged into the dispays and ling the temperature of water cir- ~a
The tube allows the astronaut to control module panel on the culating through the Liquid ,
drink from it as if from a straw, front of the upper torso. Five Cooling and Ventilation Garment. |
providing him or her with fresh connections within the umbilical The garment (item 29) is laced |
water. Also mounted inside the provide the suit with cooling with an intricate network of |
helmet near the water tube is an water, oxygen, and electrical
astronaut snack food bar.
plastic tubing, through which control module on the hard upper The mirror reflects the numbers in
water is circulated to keep the torso prevents the astronaut from their correct position. Whenever
astronaut cool and to help control being able to bend down to look an astronaut must adjust a switch
perspiration. at the controls when he or she or valve that is not otherwise
Note that the numbers on the needs to adjust them. If you look visible, the mirror helps in
Water Cooling Control Valve are just to the right of the control locating and adjusting it.
printed backwards. The reason is valve, you'll see a small mirror 13. Push-to-Talk Switch
that the location of the display Strapped to the astronaut’s arm. This switch operates the micro-
Primary Life Support System Cover
Portable Lite Support System
“fd£ 8
ALA —O OVE
Displays and
Control Module
Waist Bearing
Secondary Oxygen PaPcack
Arm
Extended view of the upper part of the EMU
phone inside the helmet. The ing a task requiring it, and to Spacesuit. It comprises the outer
voice radio works much as a CB remove it when no longer needed. layer of the Thermal Micromete-
radio works. The talk button must 21. Manned Maneuvering Unit oroid Garment. This layer is of
be pushed to talk, and released to (MMU) Release Ring Ortho Fabric™, a blend of woven
receive voice messages. When it is not in use and during Nomex™ and Teflon™ with
14. Fan Switch the donning procedure, the MMU Keviar™ Rip Stops. It protects
This switch turns on and off a tan is stowed in the flight support Subsequent layers of the space-
inside the EMU to circulate ai, Station. In this location, astro- Suit, namely the Pressure Re-
through the helmet and other nauts prepare the MMU for flight, Straint Layer and the Pressure
areas of the spacesuit. charging batteries and replenish- Bladder from abrasions and tears.
15. Caution and Warning Switch ing propellant tanks. In donning 25. Super insulation Layers (Alumin-
This switch starts the caution and the MMU, the astronaut backs ized Mylar™)
warning system to display states into it while it is secured on the The next five layers of the Ther-
of various functions within the flight support station. The MMU is mal Micrometeoroid Garment
EMU. released from the flight support provide the astronaut with
16. Communications Volume Station via these two release rings thermal protection. The material
Controls and the astronaut maneuvers in these layers is Aluminized
Volume controls are required to away using the MMU propulsion Mylar™ Film, which is reiniorced
keep some messages from power. with Dacron™ Scrim.
blaring in the astronaut’s ears, 22. Safety Tethers 26. Second Micrometeoroid Layer
and to better tune in faint ones. When astronauts work in the (Neoprene™)
17. Computer Screen Intensity Shuttle’s cargo bay, they need to As the inner lining for the Thermal
Controls keep from floating too far away Micrometeoroid Garmet, this layer
This switch controls the intensity from the spacecraft. Sometimes is the final barrier of micromete-
of the readout on the computer they work in stations with foot oroid protection. The material is
display (see item 18). restraints, but mostly they wear Neoprene™ coated Nylon™ cloth.
18. Computer Display Safety tethers. These tethers can 27. Pressure Restraint Layer
The computer display atop the be moved from location to loca- (Dacron™)
display and control module shows tion along the cargo bay to This layer is composed of syn-
an alpha and numeric readout for provide the astronaut with a full thetic fabric placed over the pres-
monitoring by the astronaut. The range of inobility, while still sure bladder fabric to give it addi-
readout shows levels of oxygen, keeping the astronaut within safe tional support and shape. (See
fuel, and power remaining in the working distance of the cargo also items 28 and 31.)
EMU’s Primary Life Support bay. 28. Pressure Bladder (Polyurethane-
System. 23. Locator Strobe Lights coated Nylar™)
19. Oxygen Pressure Actuator Strobe lights are used on the Pressure bladders are much like
This switch allows the astronaut MMU to help EVA astronauts today's tubless tires, composed of
to select the internal oxygen pres- locate each other's position, as rubber (urethane) to seal in the air
Sure of the EMU. well as to help crew members on pressure and Nylon™ to restrain
20. Mini-workstation Connector the Shuttle keep track of EVA expansion. For the bladder in the
Often the astronaut works in or progress. Strobe iights are Spacesuit, Nylon™ is dipped in
around the Shuttle’s cargo bay, effective means for locating polyurethane a minimum of six
performing tasks that require Objects in poorly lit regions. times to create an impermeable
tools. These EMU connections 24. Micrometeoroid/Tear Protection barrier between the pressure of
allow the astronaut to attach a Layer the pure oxygen inside the
small workstation while perform- This is the outermost layer of the Spacesuit and the vacuum of
Space on the outside. (See also touching the astronaut’s skin. It is Joints for the lower and upper
items 27 and 31.) made of Nylon™ chiffon, a light- torsos represent an important
29. Liquid Cooling and Ventilation weight material, to be as comfort- advance over those of previous
Garment (Ethelene Vinyl Acetate able as possible. It is positioned Spacesuits. The EMU joints
Tubing) between the astronaut and the maintain nearly constant volume
Almost like a pair of longjohns, Liquid Cooling and Ventilation during bending. As the joints are
the Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment. bent, reductions in volume along
Garment covers the astronaut’s 31. Pressure Restraint System the inner arc of the bend are
upper and lower body. The The materials used for the EMU equalized by increased volume
garment itself contains ethelene pressure restraint system are a along the outer arc of the bend.
vinyl acetate tubing, through composite of items. Airtight 32. Boot Disconnect
which water is circulated to linings with comfort fabrics are a All suit openings have locking
control the temperature. Significant part, but the spacesuit provisions that require a mini-
30.
Body Comfort Lining (Nylon™ must also be flexible and retain its mum of three independent
Chiffon)
Shape as well as inside pressure. motions to open. This feature
This is the first layer of fabric (See also items 27 and 28.) prevents any accidental opening
Material Function1 Function2 Function 3
-4+ —— ——___- -____—__ — . 7 — a ee om ame 7
Ortho Fabric Abrasion and tear protection for Thermal control Micrometeoroid protection as
(Woven Nomes and Teflon with pressure restraint and bladder part of Thermal Micromete-
Kevlar Rip Stop) oroid Garment
EEE —
Aluminized Mylar Film Rein- Thermal insulation Micrometeoroid protection as part of
formced with Dacron Scrim Thermal Micrometeoroid Garment
T - — — - 7 = = —_ + ——EE — —
Neoprene Coated Nylon Cloth Micrometeoroid barrier layer Inter-liner for Micrometeoroid Garment
— en -———- - +
Fiberglas 8 Ply Layup Pressure/load structure for hard upper Life support and display module attachment Helmet, arm, and lower torso
torso assembly Structure and fluids and gas connections attachment structure
+ — —
Dacron Cloth Pressure restrairvioad structure for Single axis joint flexure for elbow, wrist,
arms, gloves, and lower torso assembly finger, waist, knee, and ankle mobility
‘Polyurethane-coated Nylon Cloth 1 Pressure bladder for arms and lower
torsoassembly
—_ — ——__4——— ———— $$$ —— ——— 4
Dipped Polyurethane Film Pressure bladder for gloves —
sa etsieainemeenemeeaentetemeneniiet j
—o
Multi-Filament Stretch Nylon Attachment restraint for coolant tubing Attachment restraint for bio-medical instru- Attachment restraint for body |
and ventilation gas ducting mentation and radiation dosimeters comfort interlining |
Ethelene Vinyl Acetate Tubing | Water coolant distribution for body |
termal control
Nylon Chiffon Body comfort lining
of suit connections. For example,
to open or unlock any of the ring
Seals on the EMU, one or two
Sliding rectangular knobs are
moved to the right or the left.
When opened, the two halves
come apart easily. To close and
lock, one of the rings slides
partway into the other against an
O-ring seal. The knob is slid to the
right, and small pins inside the
Outer ring protrude into a Groove
around the inside ring, thereby
holding the two together.
33. Glove Disconnect
See item 32 for discription.
34. Inner Glove
The gloves have fingertips of
Silicone rubber that permit some
degree of sensitivity in handling
tools and other objects. Metal
rings in the gloves snap into rings 3s ‘i
in the sleeves of the upper torso. * oy
The rings in the gloves contain
bearings to permit rotation for
added mobility in the hand area.
35. Liquid Cooling and Ventilation
Garment Connector to Life
Support System
After the astronaut slips into the
upper torso section of the EMU.
two connections must be made.
The first connection joins the
plastic tubing of the Liquid
Cooling and Ventilation Garment
to the Primary Life Support
System. The second connection is
for the biomedical monitoring
sensor on the EMU electrical
harness that is also attached to
the life support system. Then the
astronaut locks the two body-seal
closure rings together, sometimes
with the help of another crew
member. Shown here. the restraint layer of the EMU glove is placed over the bladder The bladder is formed
when a ceramic Cast of a hand is dipped seven or eight times into a vat Containing urethane. Then
the hand-shaped bladder is stripped from the cerammic cast and inflated to check for defects and
leaks
~,
a P } |
36. Manned Maneuvering Unit 38. Waist Bearing that regulate various life-support
Safety Belt The upper torso and lower torso functions of the EMU on the front
This safety belt harness secures sections of the EMU are joined by of the display and contro! module
the astronaut into proper position a metal body-seal closure. Two are Out of the astronaut’s vision
while wearing the Manned rings — one on the upper torso range. The mirror permits the
Maneuvering Unit. and one on the lower torso — astronaut to read the knob
37. Tool Tether lock together in a fashion similar Settings, which are written on the
While in space orbiting Earth, the to other ring-seals. There is also a Spacesuit backwards to make
astronauts experience near large waist bearing that permits them easy to read with the mirror.
weightlessness. For instance, in astronauts mobility at the waist. 40. Rotational Hand Controller
the Shuttle’s cargo bay, anything This permits them to make twist- A hand controller is built into each
that is not secured by some ing motions when their feet are arm of the Manned Maneuvering
method tends to float off. This is Secured by foot restraints on sta- Unit. The hand controllers allow
true of the small tools required for tionary work platforms. the astronaut to direct the firing of
work in the cargo bay or for 39. Procedure Check List different combinations of MMU
repairing satellites in space. The A small, spiral-bound, 27-page thrusters for nearly complete
astronauts cannot simply lay the checklist for various spacewalk controll over his or her move-
tool down when it is not being procedures is mounted on the left ments. In space, there is no up or
used. The tool tether keeps small arm of the upper torso. There is down, the direction of movement
tools from drifting away, holding also a small wrist mirror. The is discussed with the terms roll,
them within working range of the mirror was added to the space- pitch, and yaw.
astronaut’s grasp. Suit because some of the knobs
<ommunications
a Switch
Selector Switch
|
Caution and Warning vaive
Switch
Alpha-Numeric ZEEE :
Display /
Fan Switch —
|
Pressure Gage
Background Lighting
:
Push-to-Talk
Switch
Pressure Gage
i‘rJ"cs m }|
\ :
Temperature Contro!
Valve Handle
High Pressure
Oxygen
Connection
To Primary Lite
Support System
ae - | °
Communications Volume ——s.
Controls
Display Intensity
Contro!
Flexible Cable tor
Orygen Actuator Contro!
Oxygen Contro! Actuator
