February 4th, 2025
BINP – Politecnico di Bari
Campus Universitario -Via Orabona 4 – Bari
In the era of renewed space exploration, with missions aiming to establish a sustainable presence on the Moon and venture toward Mars, the design of advanced space suits is crucial to ensuring astronaut safety and operational efficiency. Modern space suits must address complex challenges, from the microgravity conditions of orbital stations to the partial gravity of the Moon and the extreme environment of Mars, with its thin atmosphere and harsh temperatures.
Since 1969, only one human-rated space suit has been qualified and used extravehicularly for planetary exploration. The iconic photograph of Buzz Aldrin, with Neil Armstrong reflected in his gold visor, remains synonymous with humanity’s first steps beyond Earth. Following the Apollo era, space suits were primarily designed for low Earth orbit (LEO) missions by the United States, Russia, China, and even private companies. However, for humans to truly explore space environments beyond pressurized habitats, they require a dexterous garment and life support system tailored to the specific atmospheric and physical conditions of each destination.
Historically, space suit designs have been mission-specific. The Apollo suits, optimized for lunar exploration, could not be used aboard the International Space Station (ISS), and ISS suits, in turn, are not suited for the stresses of a lunar mission. Martian exploration presents yet another set of constraints and challenges, rendering previous suit designs unsuitable. Because each mission profile was tailored to its specific environment, multipurpose design was never a primary focus.
However, with today’s LEO destinations, Artemis lunar objectives, and global discussions surrounding Mars missions, the need for state-of-the-art, adaptable space suits is more pressing than ever. New designs must incorporate advanced technologies, innovative materials, and solutions that enhance mobility, comfort, and protection across multiple mission environments. A well-designed space suit must always fulfil the same fundamental objective: to provide astronauts with a safe and comfortable internal environment while enabling sufficient mobility and duration to carry out the demanding tasks of exploration beyond the von Kármán line.
This workshop will delve into recent advancements in space suit and extravehicular activity (EVA) system design, exploring how the latest technological innovations are shaping the future of human space exploration.
