Image of the day: X-rays of space suits

The image above, as well as those below, is part of a series at the Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum (Washington, D.C.) entitled “Suited for Space”. It follows the evolution of space suits over the past 60 years through numerous photos, artifacts, and, obviously, x-rays. 

There is a ton of interesting information associated with these images, making the display a must-see. For instance, historian Cathleen Lewis, who is also curator of International Space Programs at the museum, explains that the coils you see in the suits are located specifically where elbows and knees would be so as to help the astronauts move their joints in the pressurized suits in outer space.

“The shoulder area allows astronauts to localize air displacement and restrain the pressurization,” she said. “The joints were designed to automatically localize the displacement of air.”

In other words, the coils are there so that movement doesn’t cause the space suit to blow up like a balloon.

The exhibit will remain on display at the Smithsonian through December 1. Afterwards, it will move on to Tampa, Philadelphia, and Seattle. 

Do you enjoy stories about space? If so, then take the next 10 seconds to fill out the form below and you’ll be entered into Part 2 of LittelFuse’s Speed2Design contest, which will take 10 lucky winners to NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Don’t delay, though – as you can see by the ticking clock below, time is running out!

Story via: nationalgeographic.com