The Boeing CST-100 Starliner will be taking its first flight in 2018, but the spacesuit that the crew will be wearing has been revealed. The Boeing Blue will be worn by the astronauts traveling to the International Space Station.
Shuttle astronauts wear bulky white suits for protection in emergency situations like sudden cabin depressurization. The suit is not intended for something like spacewalks providing protection from micrometeoroids or wide thermal changes, but it is clearly more stylish than others previously worn by NASA astronauts. The Boeing Blue is a state of the art suit for 21st-century low-earth orbit travels.
According to Boeing, the new suit is 40 percent lighter than the previous suits. The layers are innovated to keep the astronauts cool. The torso area features zippers that will allow a more comfortable transition from sitting to standing. The suit gloves are touchscreen friendly, making interaction with capsule’s tablets easier. The boots are slip resistant and breathable. The suits will not only protect the astronauts during launch and return, but they will also provide communication between the space and the ground crews through a headset located in the helmet. The soft helmet provides a better peripheral vision through a wide polycarbonate visor.
Boeing Director of Starliner Crew and Mission Systems, Chris Ferguson, who is also a former NASA astronaut says,”Spacesuits have come in different sizes and shapes and designs, and I think this fits the Boeing model, fits the Boeing vehicle.”
Here is the video with all the classics of the new Boeing Blue.
