Spacesuits

Space is a very dangerous place for humans. There is no air to breathe, and temperatures can be boiling hot or freezing cold. Spacesuits are like tiny spaceships that astronauts wear. They provide air, water, and protection so astronauts can work safely outside their spacecraft.

Parts of a Spacesuit

A spacesuit has many layers. The outer layer protects against tiny rocks and radiation. Inside, there are layers to keep the right temperature. The helmet has a gold visor to block harmful sunlight. A backpack holds the oxygen supply and systems that remove carbon dioxide. The suit even has a drink bag inside the helmet.

Putting on a Spacesuit

It takes about 45 minutes to put on a spacesuit with help from other crew members. The suit weighs about 280 pounds on Earth, but it feels weightless in space. Astronauts wear special underwear with water tubes to keep cool. Gloves are one of the hardest parts to design because astronauts need to grip tools.

Fun Facts

• A NASA spacesuit costs about 12 million dollars.
• Spacesuits have a built-in diaper because spacewalks can last 6 to 8 hours.
• The gold visor on a spacesuit helmet protects against the Sun's harmful rays, just like sunglasses.

Did You Know?

Without a spacesuit, an astronaut would lose consciousness in about 15 seconds because there is no air pressure in space.