NASA- a new spacesuit for the Constellation program

Image Credit: NASA.
Engineers working to design a new spacesuit for the Constellation program have come up with a suit system that consists of two basic designs, or configurations, that will be used for different tasks. The orange suit in the illustration is Configuration One, which will be worn during launch, landing and -- if necessary -- sudden cabin depressurization events. It will also be used if a spacewalk must be performed in microgravity. Configuration Two, the white suit, would be used during moonwalks for lunar exploration. Since Configuration One will be used in and around the vehicle only, it does not need the life support backpack that Configuration Two uses -- instead it will connect to the vehicle by umbilical for oxygen, cooling water, power and communications links. Configuration Two, meanwhile, will include more hard metal elements in joint areas, which will provide the mobility necessary for surface exploration.