Design and evaluation of elements of a life support system for mechanical counterpressure spacesuits

Mechanical counterpressure (MCP) spacesuits offer several advantages over traditional gas-pressurized suits including lower energy cost of transport, reduced risk of decompression due to suit tear or puncture, and increased astronaut comfort. The BioSuit[superscript TM] is an MCP concept being developed at MIT primarily for planetary extravehicular activity (EVA) on the Moon and Mars. In this thesis we present the initial design and testing of several key parts of the life support system for the BioSuit[superscript TM]. First, a breathing compensation bladder that covers the chest and is pneumatically continuous with the helmet is discussed. This bladder eases the burden of respiration associated with constrictive garments and adapts to the changing volume of the chest to provide equalized pressure across the torso. The initial results of laboratory testing of the airflow and pressure maintenance of a bladder-helmet system on a mannequin are presented. Second, thermal modeling of a BioSuit[superscript TM] EVA on the lunar and Martian surfaces was conducted to assess the performance of MCP spacesuit garments in protecting astronauts from the extreme temperatures and harsh radiation environments of those locations. This modeling included new proposed radiation protection and insulating materials as well as a passive elastic compressive layer. Results were computed for both male and female astronauts, helping to identify suit design differences that will be needed to accommodate both men and women who will conduct future EVAs. This work is used to inform future design requirements for the suit's thermal management system. Overall, this research advances the development of life support systems for a full MCP spacesuit and lessons learned can be applied for future engineering prototypes.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Aeronautics and Astronautics

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2020

Author dc:creator

• Stroming, Jeremy Paul.

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Dava J. Newman.

• Aeronautics and Astronautics.

Statement dc:rights

• MIT theses may be protected by copyright. Please reuse MIT thesis content according to the MIT Libraries Permissions Policy, which is available through the URL provided.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

https://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/127098

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/127098