Mechanical CounterPressure

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Mechanical Counter-Pressure
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Introduction the current spacesuits

• The current spacesuit
• Stiff gas-tight cloth pressurized from .25 to 4
  atm
• Contains many complex systems
• Where did it evolve form
• What are its limitations

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Introduction mechanical counter-pressure

• What is it?
• The use of an elastic material to apply pressure
  on the body so it can function normally under low
  or even zero external pressure conditions.

• Rationale
• Our skin
• How effective is our skin?
• Thermal regulation

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Advantages

• Reduce complexity
• Minimize gas loss
• Increase safety
• Thermoregulation
• Cost

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Things we need to overcome

• Choice of material
• Design
• How easy is it to put on the suit
• Concavities
• Breathing
• Neck dam/seal

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Experiments

• MCP glove in high altitude chamber
• Excellent mobility
• Difficulty with the seal

• Full body suit
• Exerted between 170 to 200 mm of Hg of pressure
• All kinds of physical activities were performed

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Findings of experiments

• Minimum value of about .25 atm or 170 mm Hg
• Increased thermoregulation
• Skin damage?
• Metabolic cost
• Breathing

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Where do we go from here

• The concept is an excellent idea
• Look at new materials and neck damn seals
• Better suit construction methods
• More tests