Teaching Objectives:
EVA 104 extends upon the introductory life support system curriculum presented in EVA 101 to include specific EVA space suit systems and test and validation procedures. The course covers a historical analysis of specific US and Russian EVA space suit development programs, EVA space suit systems, laboratory test protocols, terminology and etiquette, EVA space suit test development, and design drivers of future EVA space suit systems. Students will be responsible to develop testing procedures based on tools and procedures developed in EVA 102 (Operational Space Medicine), EVA 103 (Planetary Field Geology), or for microgravity operations.
Textbooks:
U.S. Spacesuits, Kenneth Thomas and Harold McMann, Springer, 2nd ed. (2012)
Russian Spacesuits, Issac Abramov et al., Springer, (2003)
Curriculum:
Week 1. EVA space suit introduction
Week 2. Historical analysis of Russian EVA Space Suits
Week 3. Historical analysis of US EVA Space Suits
Week 4. EVA Space Suit Systems: LCG system, chest control board, communications, and lighting.
Week 5. EVA Space Suit Systems: diagnostics and repair, biomonitoring systems, suit maintenance
Week 6: MCC Operations, etiquette and terminology, test roles and responsibilities
Week 7: EVA Testing Procedure Development, Airlocks and Airlock Procedures
Week 8: Future of EVA space suit development
Week 9: Briefings of EVA test procedures
EVA Space Suit Evaluation Program:
Day 1: EVA space suit donning, Assisting donning of EVA space suits. Chest control board operations, cooling, communication and lighting system operations. Introduction to gravity offset systems (Lunar, Martian, and microgravity operations).
Day 2-4: Surface EVA Evaluation, lunar and Martian gravity (scooper, drill, hammer, soil sampler, spectrometer, remote rover operations). Microgravity operations (drill and ‘Task Board 3’ panel removal and maintenance, hatch operations, camera mounting and operation, translation using handrails and carabiners). MCC operations, medical monitoring, and gravity offset system operations. Comparative evaluation of finger, hand, and upper body strength in unsuited, suited and unpressurized, and suited and pressurized environments.
