Space Wear

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What do astronauts wear in space?

 Astronauts choose what they wear in space, most of the clothing that they bring onto the space station however gets burned along with the garbage when the Shuttle enters Earth's atmosphere. Inside the space station they wear what normal people wear, polo shirts, sweaters, shorts, t-shirts, overalls, and socks. However, when they are working outside in space, they wear space suits.

How often do astronauts get new clothes?

Astronauts and crew members usually get a pair of shorts and a t-shirt when they exercise for three days. Their shirts and pants for work are changed every ten days. Members of the space crew get a shirt to wear under their work shirts every ten days. Garments like underwear and socks are given every other day but special socks called PolartecTM socks are given once a month. The crew members also get two sweaters to wear. However, shuttle mission crew members change clothes everyday. Their pants and shorts have many pockets and Velcro straps.

What do space suits do for astronauts?

Space suits protect astronauts from micrometeorites that may hit them when they are space walking, protect the astronauts from rapidly changing temperatures, the suit itself is also pressurized to make sure the astronauts blood circulates around the body and not just the bottom of the body. It is also used to help protect the astronauts from radiation (solar and infrared), and the lack of oxygen in space.

How long can an astronaut work in space (space walks)?

An astronaut can work in space for up to seven hours in the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU).

What are some improvements for future space suits?

Some improvements for future space suits would be higher pressure inside the space suits because less time would be consumed from space walks by pure air breath to get rid of any nitrogen in their bodies. Another improvement for future space suits would be gloves that very mobile and can easily be manipulated by the astronauts hands. The two final improvements would be an electronic checklist and remove able parts.

Sources:

    http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/living/spacewear/index.html

    http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/space_level2/wardrobe.html

    http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/space/teachers/suited/8future.html

    http://science.howstuffworks.com/question544.htm

    http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/docs/StarChild/space_level2/spacewalk.html

Images From:

    http://www.tamabi.ac.jp/idd/shiro/pneu/space-suits.gif

    http://starchild.gsfc.nasa.gov/Images/StarChild/space_level1/sts75_casual.gif

    http://media.nasaexplores.com/02-022/spacewalk2.jpg

    http://media.nasaexplores.com/lessons/03-061/images/flexible_newsuit.jpg