Space suit facts for kids
A spacesuit is special clothing that protects astronauts. They wear it when they go into outer space or fly very high in the sky. Spacesuits are fully sealed. This means they keep astronauts safe in the cold, empty, and airless environment of space.
Spacesuits have their own heating and cooling systems. They also include a radio for talking to others. These suits give astronauts fresh air to breathe. They also create normal atmospheric pressure around the body.
A spacesuit covers the whole body. It has gloves for the hands and a helmet for the head. The helmet has a clear visor to see through. Astronauts wear spacesuits when flying in the space shuttle, rockets, or on space stations. For spacewalks, they use a stronger, more complex type of spacesuit.
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What is a Spacesuit?
A spacesuit is like a personal spaceship for an astronaut. It's a special suit designed to keep a person alive in the extreme conditions of space. Without a spacesuit, an astronaut could not survive outside a spacecraft.
Why Do Astronauts Need Spacesuits?
Space is a very dangerous place for humans. It has no air to breathe and is extremely cold. There is also no atmospheric pressure, which means liquids in your body would boil. Spacesuits protect astronauts from these dangers.
Protection from Space
Spacesuits keep the astronaut's body at a safe temperature. They have layers that protect against tiny space dust. They also block harmful radiation from the Sun.
Breathing and Pressure
Inside the suit, there is a constant supply of oxygen to breathe. The suit also keeps the air pressure around the astronaut's body just right. This is vital for survival in the vacuum of space.
Parts of a Spacesuit
A modern spacesuit is made of many different parts working together. Each part has an important job to do.
The Helmet
The helmet protects the astronaut's head. It has a clear visor that can be tinted to block bright sunlight. The helmet also contains a microphone and speakers for communication.
The Torso and Limbs
The main body of the suit covers the torso, arms, and legs. It's made of many layers of fabric and special materials. These layers provide insulation, pressure, and protection. Flexible joints allow the astronaut to move their arms and legs.
Gloves
Special gloves protect the hands. They are designed to allow astronauts to grip tools. They also keep the hands warm and pressurized.
Life Support System
On the back of the spacesuit is a backpack. This backpack holds the Portable Life Support System (PLSS). It contains the oxygen tanks, a system to remove carbon dioxide, and equipment to control temperature. It also has the radio for talking to mission control.
Different Kinds of Spacesuits
Not all spacesuits are the same. Different missions require different types of suits.
IVA Suits
IVA stands for Intra-Vehicular Activity. These suits are lighter. Astronauts wear them inside a spacecraft during launch and landing. They are mainly for emergencies, like if the cabin loses pressure.
EVA Suits
EVA stands for Extra-Vehicular Activity. These are the suits used for spacewalks. They are much tougher and more complex. They must protect astronauts from the full harshness of space. Examples include the Apollo spacesuit and the Orlan space suit.
Future Spacesuits
Scientists and engineers are always working on new spacesuits. These new suits will be lighter, more flexible, and even safer. They are being designed for future missions to the Moon and even Mars.
Images for kids
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Apollo spacesuit worn by astronaut Buzz Aldrin on Apollo 11
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Orlan space suit worn by astronaut Michael Fincke outside the International Space Station
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Space suits being used to work on the International Space Station.
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From left to right, Margaret R. (Rhea) Seddon, Kathryn D. Sullivan, Judith A. Resnick, Sally K. Ride, Anna L. Fisher, and Shannon W. Lucid—The first six female astronauts of the United States stand with a Personal Rescue Enclosure, a spherical life support ball for emergency transfer of people in space
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Astronaut Steven G. MacLean pre-breathes prior to an EVA
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NASA's experimental AX-5 hard-shell space suit (1988)
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Pressurised suit prototype designed by military engineer Emilio Herrera for a stratospheric balloon flight. c.1935
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Aouda.X
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Final Frontier Design IVA Space Suit
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Z-1 Series Suit
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SK-1 space suit
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Berkut space suit
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Yastreb space suit
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Krechet space suit
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Strizh space suit
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Sokol-KV2 space suit
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Orlan-MK space suit
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Shenzhou Intra-Vehicular Activity space suit
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Feitian space suit
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See also
In Spanish: Traje espacial para niños
