You can actually help design the next NASA spacesuit

In 2012, NASA spacesuit engineers came up with a next-generation spacesuit platform called the Z-Series. The first spacesuit in this series, the Z-1, became one of Time Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2012.

The Z-1 Spacesuit.

Now the spacesuit engineers are looking to improve on the original by November 2014, and they’re reaching all sorts of milestones in the process. The Z-2 spacesuit is the first surface-specific planetary mobility suit to be tested in full vacuum. It marks the first time that 3D human-laser scans and 3D-printed hardware were used in the development of the suit. So far, it is most conformal and resizable hard upper torso suit ever built.

The engineers will equip each suit with a cover laying design element because it is important to protect the suit against abrasion during testing.

Although they’ve cooked up the suit’s basics, one thing remains undecided: the actual look and design.

NASA is letting the public vote on the next space suit design.

Here are the nominees.

Option A: “Biomimicy”

This design is based on the world’s oceans. It’s blue and has qualities of many aquatic creatures. It includes pleats at the shoulder, elbow, hip, and knee, and electroluminescent wire across the upper torso, which becomes apparent in reduced light.

Option B: “Technology”

This design uses Luminex wire, light-emitting patches, exposed rotating bearings, collapsing pleats for mobility and highlighted movement, and abrasion-resistant panels on the lower torso.

Option C: “Trends in Society”

This design tries to incorporate some fashion sense by playing off of what everyday clothes might like in the future. This suit also uses electroluminescent wire, but incorporates a bright color scheme to mimic sportswear clothing and wearable technologies.

The Z-2 suit will be used for traditional fit checks and mobility evaluations. However, the team is also planning some tests for the suit in which they will conduct multiple vacuum chamber tests, and try it out at the Neutral Buoyancy Lab and the rocky Martian surface along site at the Johnson Space Center.

If you think it would be exciting to have a say in the next spacesuit design, head over to the NASA Z-2 Spacesuit website and cast your vote. You’ll have until April 15 at 11:59 p.m. to share your opinion.

Vote now.