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Vote on the next NASA Z-2 Exploration Space Suit!

By Kat Bauman - March 28, 2014

in Accessories | Service Design

NASA is in on the concept vehicle game (as long as space suits count as body vehicles) and they want your input on which they should bring to life. One of three Z Series finalists on offer will really be built, put through rigorous pressure and fit tests and used to inform the future of suit development. Though the designs are a bit whimsical, the program exists to spur creative designs and learn where advancement is feasible in the heavily constrained field.

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The previous Z-1 competition was started as an exercise in innovative suit design, with an emphasis on increased mobility and Extra-Vehicular Activity. The winner was a flexible-bodied suit above whose colors riff on a certain beloved character. This year's finalists are less famous but no less fun. Let's meet the contestants!

The Nature-Lover

"Biomimicry" sports naturally-inspired features like bioluminescent detailing and scaly textures. This is a clear winner for Spring/Summer menswear. The fitted shorts and textured, dovetailed top are SO IN this season, and the flexibly jointed arms maintain a contemporary silhouette while accentuating the traditional athleticism of icons like Popeye. Cosmonautical, amirite?

The Gearhead

"Technology" is edgy, yet pragmatic. This tech-savvy body covering is distinctive by design, proposing personalized markings for each crew member. I'm a fan of the handy "This Way Up" glow in the dark tramp stamp. Super practical for those awkward EVA hook-ups.

The Socialite

"Trends in Society" is just like you and me. Pictured here with her hairdryer on a rousing rocky Martian hike, this design is inspired by flashy sportswear and, apparently, Tron. Gore pleats! Wearable tech! Mars 2.0!

The winner will be treated to a host of honors: it will be the first suit tested in full vacuum, the most advanced use of impact resistant composite structures on a suit, and the first to use the intimate and accurate 3D human laser scans and 3D-printed hardware for suit development and sizing. They'll be the talk of the town... as long as that town is on the Space Coast.

Cast your vote, and may the best suit win!

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Ponderer

10 years ago

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The most homie looking spacesuit I ever saw !

This looks like a bunch of middle schooler astronaut suit designer wanna bes got together in their garage and used their mom's old sewing machine to put together a really homie looking suit for Halloween.

What a shame !...I thought NASA had better design sense than to show off a beer can suit with glow stick patches on it(and that too looks like some elementary school kid did it as homework assignment). I hope not a cent a tax payer money was spent on this embarrassment.

No respectable astronaut with any self esteem will ever be caught in this..not even for Halloween !

Please, oh please, for humanity's sake, go to design school and learn the basics of styling !..and there should be a limit to design by committee....even for camels !
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James Patrick

10 years ago

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The general public is definitely not qualified to decide on this type of thing.
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totm

10 years ago

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Agree, this reads as a puff piece at best meant to garner some social media hits. If they want graphic styling these could be so much more evocative and exciting without half-heartedly attaching some gesture towards functionality. This looks likes engineers styling to me. NASA needs to get its adventure back on.

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jason

10 years ago

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Its the same suit with different graphics. Tear drops or Tron shapes? Either way it should be based on scenario and performance. The public might pick the pattern that performs the worst. The contest should have either been about soliciting electro-luminescent patterns to find the best one, or to design a logo for the suits or something that wont directly affect the astronauts ability to see in low-light conditions. They should be doing testing on what graphic emits the most useful pattern of light, then iterating it into a refined, beautiful graphic pattern.
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