Space Suit Component Research Project

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Space Suit Component Research Project

• The Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment

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Summary

• What is the Liquid cooling and Ventilation
  Garment?
• Where did it come from?
• How does it work?
• Can it be improved?

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The LCVG

• Provides cooling for astronaut
• Removes moisture from the air
• Does not need to heat
• Suit Insulation Layers are very good hence the
  need for cooling

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The Mercury Space Suit

• Modified high altitude flight suits
• Only used as a back up for capsule decompression
• Not used in EVA
• Gas cooling system
• Gas from Capsule through umbilical
• B.F, Goodrinch was prime contractor
• Vetilation layer was double walled vulcanized
  nylon and long underwear with waffle weave patches

• Not used in EVA
• Modified high altitude flight suits
• Only used as a back up for capsule decompression

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The Gemini Space Suit

• Manufactured by the B.F.Goodrinch Company but
  then by David Clark
• Used a gas cooling and ventilation system
• System was not effective

• Astronauts became overheated
• The Helmet fogged up
• Astronauts were hot and they could not see very
  well

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The Apollo Space Suit

• First time liquid cooling was used
• Water tubes were sewn into long underwear type
  garments
• Fabric ventilation ducts on the inner most layer
  of the pressure garment

• Used first Personal life support system for extra
  astronaut mobility
• Very similar to current LCVG design
• Similar suits worn on Skylab missions and Apollo
  Soyuz missions minus the PLSS
• Initially manufactured by ILC Dover

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The Current Extravehicular Mobility Unit

• Prime contractor is Hamilton Standard
• ILC Dover manufactures the LCVG
• Nylon tricot with spandex
• Poly-vinyl tubing run throughout the LCVG

• Ventilation intakes located by each hand and foot
• Water and gas draw in to PLSS by a buck on the
  back of the LCVG

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LCVG and PLSS Interaction

• The PLSS cools the water and purifies the air
  from the LCVG
• Uses a condenser to remove moisture from the air
• Moisture from perspiration and respiration

• Collects condensed water fro use in the plastic
  tubes
• Uses water mainly to cool water in LCVG tube
• Sublimes water through a porous steel plate
  exposed directly to vacuum
• Water in LCVG tubes is passed by the steel plates
  and cooled

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Current Research

• Stanford University
• Uses a water permeable membrane
• Lets moisture out where it sublimes
• Cools the astronaut
• Eliminates the back pack air conditioner

• Purdue University
• Looking into using sound waves to cool fluids
• Still under development and inefficient right now

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We Can Do Better

• Porous sublimation plates may become fouled by
  dust
• Stop the cooling process entirely
• The suit costs about 20 million dollars

• There are disadvantages with the current EMU
  cooling system
• It is incredibly heavy
• Weight is a major hindrance to any terrestrial
  exploration

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Conclusion

• The Current LCVG has been a response to
  inadequate cooling and ventilation systems of the
  past. Now the Current LCVG must adapt to the new
  demands of space and terrestrial exploration.

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Questions?