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Starliner Space Suit – a modified Boeing Blue version of ACES – revealed
by
Chris Bergin
on 25 Jan, 2017 17:11
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#1
by
cletus
on 25 Jan, 2017 18:09
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A vacuum-proof zipper! Is that a recent invention? Seems super useful.
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#2
by
pippin
on 25 Jan, 2017 18:21
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I don't think the zipper is airtight.
The way it looks it's designed to help re-shape the suite between standing and sitting, essentially folding in a belly-section of the suite.
It looks like it's entirely on the outside of the suit
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#3
by
jarnu
on 25 Jan, 2017 18:34
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There are two zippers in the video. The one in the belly and the one in the helmet. It is the last one what surprises me. Is it airtight? How?
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#4
by
Comga
on 25 Jan, 2017 18:35
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I don't think the zipper is airtight.
The way it looks it's designed to help re-shape the suite between standing and sitting, essentially folding in a belly-section of the suite.
It looks like it's entirely on the outside of the suit
The video directly states " ... the new, reduced size helmet opens and closes with a zipper for convenience."
It is shown being closed at the neck.
The text discusses different zippers in the torso. Possibly a solution to the dreaded"spacesuit droopy butt" syndrome.
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#5
by
Johnnyhinbos
on 25 Jan, 2017 18:37
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Airtight zippers have been around for a long time. Fabric rubber backed brass zippers were originally developed by BF Goodrich for NASA and have long been adopted for use in drysuits. (Well, YKK zippers). The pressure delta is about 1/3 ATA, so not terribly huge.
Here I'm pressure testing a drysuit at work. The YKK sipper is across the shoulders.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
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#6
by
ethan829
on 25 Jan, 2017 18:42
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#7
by
DOCinCT
on 25 Jan, 2017 18:47
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The video from the Boeing web page is out on YouTube
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#8
by
jarnu
on 25 Jan, 2017 18:48
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Ok, I see. I wasn't aware of that capability. And I suppose it was used before for that critical joint. It seems it creates a very confortable and light helmet. The rest of the suit seems also thinner, flexible and light. At least in the joints that go between torso and limbs.
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#9
by
Rocket Science
on 25 Jan, 2017 18:51
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#10
by
Orbiter
on 25 Jan, 2017 18:54
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I vote to call this the "blueberry" suit as opposed to NASA's "pumpkin" suit
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#11
by
Lars-J
on 25 Jan, 2017 20:03
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Neat!
I like it.
Although "Boeing blue" color might be a poor choice for visibility during an ocean abort.
I do wonder how custom it has do be for different body shapes. Will each astronaut need a custom one, or is it more one size fits all, or somewhere in-between with a few standard sizes?
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#12
by
okan170
on 26 Jan, 2017 00:19
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Neat! I like it.
Although "Boeing blue" color might be a poor choice for visibility during an ocean abort.
I do wonder how custom it has do be for different body shapes. Will each astronaut need a custom one, or is it more one size fits all, or somewhere in-between with a few standard sizes?
From the presentation, it sounded like there would be a variety of different sizes available.
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#13
by
MATTBLAK
on 26 Jan, 2017 00:42
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#14
by
Steven Pietrobon
on 26 Jan, 2017 04:02
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The pressure delta is about 1/3 ATA, so not terribly huge.
Had to look up what an ATA is. Its basically 1 atmosphere = 101.325 kPa. So 1/3 ATA is about 34 kPa.
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#15
by
Zed_Noir
on 26 Jan, 2017 07:26
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Although "Boeing blue" color might be a poor choice for visibility during an ocean abort.
The color of the suit doesn't do much for visibility at sea. Much better to have reflective strips which will do a much better job. Since you need a light source emitting from the searcher to see anyone in the middle of the sea.
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#16
by
woods170
on 26 Jan, 2017 08:24
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Although "Boeing blue" color might be a poor choice for visibility during an ocean abort.
The color of the suit doesn't do much for visibility at sea. Much better to have reflective strips which will do a much better job. Since you need a light source emitting from the searcher to see anyone in the middle of the sea.
Nope. NASA did not require a high-visibility pressure suit. Starliner will only land on water in extreme contingency cases (default is landing on land) and the crew is supposed to stay inside the capsule until help arrives. From that point forward you do not need high visibility suits.
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#17
by
jacqmans
on 26 Jan, 2017 11:56
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#18
by
Rocket Science
on 26 Jan, 2017 12:42
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They might incorporate glow sticks, LED light sticks and strobe lights with a locator beacon...
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#19
by
jgoldader
on 26 Jan, 2017 13:09
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I'm a little surprised they didn't use conformal helmets. The Columbia crew survival report had a lot to say about trauma from the loose-fitting helmets. Is ASAP going to be happy?
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#20
by
Jim
on 26 Jan, 2017 13:47
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I'm a little surprised they didn't use conformal helmets. The Columbia crew survival report had a lot to say about trauma from the loose-fitting helmets. Is ASAP going to be happy?
Not applicable. The mass of the shuttle helmets was the problem. Shuttle crews had to bail out. If there are loads that will cause head trauma on CST-100, then there are bigger issues. The CST-100 crew will be in reclining seats in an eyeballs in orientation with one basic direction of loads.
(see comment about Apollo eyes below)
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#21
by
Jim
on 26 Jan, 2017 13:51
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Although "Boeing blue" color might be a poor choice for visibility during an ocean abort.
The color of the suit doesn't do much for visibility at sea. Much better to have reflective strips which will do a much better job. Since you need a light source emitting from the searcher to see anyone in the middle of the sea.
Nope. NASA did not require a high-visibility pressure suit. Starliner will only land on water in extreme contingency cases (default is landing on land) and the crew is supposed to stay inside the capsule until help arrives. From that point forward you do not need high visibility suits.
Correct.
People need to look through Apollo eyes and not Shuttle eyes.
Shuttle crew was going to bail out over the ocean and be separated from each other by large distances. Also, they would not be in or next to a floating orbiter.
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#22
by
Robotbeat
on 26 Jan, 2017 14:46
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I like the new suits, and was just thinking the other day how I liked the lightweight design of the GT7 Gemini suits with the partially fabric helmet. Should reduce stowage volume and make the suits more comfortable when not pressurized.
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#23
by
Basto
on 26 Jan, 2017 20:01
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#24
by
Jim
on 26 Jan, 2017 20:11
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I like the new suits, and was just thinking the other day how I liked the lightweight design of the GT7 Gemini suits with the partially fabric helmet. Should reduce stowage volume and make the suits more comfortable when not pressurized.
GT-7 crew still wore crash helmets under the suit helmet.
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#25
by
Rocket Science
on 26 Jan, 2017 20:22
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#26
by
jabe
on 26 Jan, 2017 20:47
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#27
by
MATTBLAK
on 26 Jan, 2017 23:09
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I like the new suits, and was just thinking the other day how I liked the lightweight design of the GT7 Gemini suits with the partially fabric helmet. Should reduce stowage volume and make the suits more comfortable when not pressurized.
GT-7 crew still wore crash helmets under the suit helmet.
Probably because of the alarming ejection possibilities.
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#28
by
Zed_Noir
on 27 Jan, 2017 00:50
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#29
by
Rocket Science
on 27 Jan, 2017 01:00
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#30
by
zubenelgenubi
on 27 Jan, 2017 01:37
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Great update, Chris!
Thank you also for addressing what is known about the space suit for Dragon and the mention of the Orion space suit.
Spaceship!
Is it me. 
Or is that a Space Smurf?
Leaving now 
Well, I think the new suits are just smurfy.
And we should consider other inspiration source possibilities.
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#31
by
Eric Hedman
on 29 Jan, 2017 06:06
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#32
by
Scylla
on 12 Aug, 2018 03:26
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What it's like to wear Boeing's Space Suit
Everyday Astronaut
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#33
by
FutureSpaceTourist
on 07 Nov, 2022 19:56
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Crosspost:
https://flic.kr/p/2nXTN6Y
KSC-20221018-PH_KLS01_0222
From left, NASA astronauts Mike Fincke, Suni Williams, and Barry “Butch” Wilmore, Boeing Crew Flight Test (CFT) backup spacecraft test pilot, pilot, and commander, respectively, exit the Astronaut Crew Quarters at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida during a crew validation test on Oct. 18, 2022. The astronauts, with assistance from the Boeing team, successfully completed the validation test during which they suited up and tested out the pressurized crew module to ensure seat fit, suit functionality, cabin temperature, audio system, and day of launch operations. Boeing’s CFT is scheduled to launch in April 2023. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
I like it. 
