{"id":19093,"date":"2017-01-25T18:55:30","date_gmt":"2017-01-25T10:55:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/touchscreen-gloves-zippered-helmets-boeing-reboots-the-spacesuit-for-starliner\/"},"modified":"2017-01-25T18:55:30","modified_gmt":"2017-01-25T10:55:30","slug":"touchscreen-gloves-zippered-helmets-boeing-reboots-the-spacesuit-for-starliner","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/touchscreen-gloves-zippered-helmets-boeing-reboots-the-spacesuit-for-starliner\/","title":{"rendered":"Touchscreen gloves? Zippered helmets? Boeing reboots the spacesuit for Starliner"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure id=\"attachment_306035\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-306035\" style=\"width: 630px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full-width wp-image-306035\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/170125-spacesuit-630x412.jpg\" alt=\"Boeing Starliner spacesuit\" width=\"630\" height=\"412\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/170125-spacesuit-630x412.jpg 630w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/170125-spacesuit-768x503.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/170125-spacesuit.jpg 1094w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\"><figcaption data-nosnippet=\"\" id=\"caption-attachment-306035\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Boeing\u2019s Chris Ferguson, a former astronaut, models the Starliner spacesuit. (Boeing via YouTube)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The spacesuit designed for astronauts riding Boeing\u2019s Starliner space taxi makes a fashion statement for the 21st century, from its touchscreen-sensitive gloves to its color-coordinated shoes.<\/p>\n<p>And all of it in Boeing blue.<\/p>\n<p>The spacesuit made its public debut today during a media extravaganza at NASA\u2019s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, with former NASA astronaut Chris Ferguson as one of the emcees.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI was essentially the model for this as they built the suit around me,\u201d said Ferguson, who commanded the final space shuttle mission in 2011 and now serves as Boeing\u2019s director of crew and mission systems.<\/p>\n<p>The CST-100 Starliner is being developed as a transport vehicle for NASA crews heading to and from the International Space Station. There\u2019s a chance that Ferguson could take a ride as a Boeing test pilot, but for now, the composition of the initial crews is up in the air.<\/p>\n<p><iframe title=\"Boeing Suits Up\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/l7tyJGC0n4M?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen=\"\" data-ratio=\"0.5625\" data-width=\"800\" data-height=\"450\" style=\"display: block; margin: 0px; width: 800px; height: 450px;\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>NASA has tapped four current astronauts&nbsp;\u2013 Eric Boe, Bob Behnken, Doug Hurley and Suni Williams&nbsp;\u2013 to train for the first round of commercial flights on the Starliner as well as on SpaceX\u2019s Crew Dragon.<\/p>\n<p>All four of those astronauts have been involved in testing the Starliner suit, which is designed for use inside the spacecraft during launch and entry.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe most important part is that the suit will keep you alive,\u201d Boe said in a NASA report on the unveiling. \u201cIt is a lot lighter, more form-fitting and it\u2019s simpler, which is always a good thing. Complicated systems have more ways they can break, so simple is better on something like this.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>At less than 20 pounds, the suit weighs about 10 pounds less than the traditional orange launch-and-entry suit used during the shuttle era. The material lets water vapor pass through to keep astronauts from getting drenched in sweat, while retaining the air inside the suit.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_306036\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-306036\" style=\"width: 630px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full-width wp-image-306036\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/160125-starliner-graphic-630x329.jpg\" alt=\"Starliner spacesuit graphic\" width=\"630\" height=\"329\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/160125-starliner-graphic-630x329.jpg 630w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/160125-starliner-graphic-768x401.jpg 768w, https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/160125-starliner-graphic.jpg 945w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 630px) 100vw, 630px\"><figcaption data-nosnippet=\"\" id=\"caption-attachment-306036\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">NASA\u2019s graphic highlights design features of the Starliner spacesuit.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The launch-and-entry&nbsp;suit can\u2019t be used during spacewalks. Extravehicular activity requires a much bulkier suit that weighs about 280 pounds. \u201cThis is really something used internally, in the spacecraft only,\u201d Ferguson explained.<\/p>\n<p>The suit, designed by David Clark Company for Boeing, is meant to be pressurized in the event of an in-flight emergency.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe spacesuit acts as the emergency backup to the spacecraft\u2019s redundant life support systems,\u201d said Richard Watson, subsystem manager for spacesuits for NASA\u2019s Commercial Crew Program. \u201cIf everything goes perfectly on a mission, then you don\u2019t need a spacesuit. It\u2019s like having a fire extinguisher close by in the cockpit. You need it to be effective if it is needed.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><iframe id=\"twitter-widget-0\" scrolling=\"no\" frameborder=\"0\" allowtransparency=\"true\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" class=\"\" style=\"position: static; visibility: visible; width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;\" title=\"X Post\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/embed\/Tweet.html?creatorScreenName=b0yle&amp;dnt=true&amp;embedId=twitter-widget-0&amp;features=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%3D%3D&amp;frame=false&amp;hideCard=false&amp;hideThread=false&amp;id=824321883885760512&amp;lang=en&amp;origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.geekwire.com%2F2017%2Fboeing-reboots-spacesuit-starliner%2F&amp;sessionId=ec93858ff61f03e56a034c5360fc048bf6ecb097&amp;siteScreenName=geekwire&amp;theme=light&amp;widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&amp;width=550px\" data-tweet-id=\"824321883885760512\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\" data-twitter-extracted-i1782803541825346287=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">ICYMI: Watch #Boeing\u2013@WashingtonPost Facebook live reveal of #Starliner Spacesuit + go inside mock-up: https:\/\/t.co\/VWWf8PJ2Io pic.twitter.com\/Ri4qGIQlUB<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Boeing Defense (@BoeingDefense) January 25, 2017<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><script async=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>A&nbsp;lightweight helmet and visor are incorporated into the suit, and hang back like a hood when not in use. When the helmet\u2019s needed, the wearer pulls it down over his or her face and simply zips it up.<\/p>\n<p>The suit comes with twist-on, twist-off gloves, with fingertips that are touchscreen-sensitive so that astronauts can operate the Starliner\u2019s streamlined displays. The integrated shoes look like cross-trainers, and come in a stylish color scheme that fades from deep blue to white.<\/p>\n<p>Boeing and NASA will continue putting the adjustable blue suits to the test over the months of training to come. The current schedule calls for the first Starliner test flight to the&nbsp;space station to take place during the summer of 2018.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_306038\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-306038\" style=\"width: 630px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full-width wp-image-306038\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.geekwire.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/01\/160125-full-spacesuit-630x857.jpg\" alt=\"Straliner spacesuit\" width=\"630\" height=\"857\"><figcaption data-nosnippet=\"\" id=\"caption-attachment-306038\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Boeing\u2019s Chris Ferguson stands tall in the Starliner suit. (Boeing Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Boeing\u2019s Chris Ferguson, a former astronaut, models the Starliner spacesuit. (Boeing via YouTube) The spacesuit designed for astronauts riding Boeing\u2019s Starliner space taxi makes a fashion statement for the 21st century, from its touchscreen-sensitive gloves to its color-coordinated shoes. And all of it in Boeing blue. The spacesuit made its public debut today during a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[670,291,717,190,1306],"class_list":["post-19093","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news","tag-boeing","tag-commercial-space","tag-international-space-station","tag-nasa","tag-starliner"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19093"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=19093"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/19093\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=19093"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=19093"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=19093"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}