When you think of spacesuits, you probably picture the Michelin-man-style bulky numbers that astronauts wear on spacewalks. But both Boeing and now SpaceX have designed slimmer spacesuits meant to be worn inside of spacecraft. These don’t have the ballistic protection (required for meteorite particles) that spacewalk-capable suits possess, but they are pressurized and will protect the wearer in case the vessel depressurizes. Early this morning/late last night, Elon Musk Instagrammed this image of SpaceX ‘s newly-designed suit: Here’s Boeing’s suit , meant to be worn by astronauts in their CST-100 Starliner : The SpaceX suit is more stylish, but the Boeing suit’s helmet clearly offers better peripheral vision. I also have to laud Boeing’s designers for having the supreme self-restraint to not place the pressurization ports directly where the wearer’s nipples are. I wouldn’t have been able to help myself.
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Elon Musk Reveals SpaceX’s New, Functioning Spacesuit
Michelin and Bridgestone have been racing to take the air out of everyone’s tires—but in a good way. Both companies have been developing open-air wheels that will never puncture or deflate, and while they’ve mostly seen use in research and military vehicles to date, John Deere will finally offer a ride-on mower that uses Michelin’s see-through Tweels . Read more…