NASA has a spacesuit shortage and they say new ones are a long ways away.
- Spacesuits designed only for 15 years of service
- New spacesuits are a long way out
- NASA spent $200 million on suit tech for Mars and beyond
NASA's supply of large, cumbersome, spacewalking suits -- like the ones used by the crew on board the International Space Station -- are dwindling.
Design problems and health risks are plaguing the suits designed for only 15 years of service.
In 2013, Italian astronaut Luca Parmitano's spacewalk quickly ended when water filled his helmet, putting him in danger of drowning.
NASA's inspector general office announced this week replacements for the 40-year-old designed suits are years away.
This despite NASA spending some $200 million on the suit technology for trips to Mars and beyond.
The audit calls for the space agency to form a plan to design, test and produce proper suits to align with its goals, needs of the crew and the 2024 retirement of the ISS.
"What we see right now is the lack of a definition of functions, lack of definition of goals," said Obdrej Doule, who oversees Florida Tech's budding Human Spaceflight Program as an assistant professor. "It's like if you give an architect goal of building a house, and you don't tell him anything about the house."
Florida Tech recently bought a fully functional 21st century spacesuit, and it's hoped one day ones like it will be worn by commercial space crews, space tourists, even NASA astronauts.
NASA is also mandated with coming up with a cost analysis of maintaining the current spacesuits, and developing a next generation model.
Florida Tech recently bought this fully functional spacesuit, which it hopes will be worn by space travelers one day. (Greg Pallone, Staff)