Leonard David's INSIDE OUTER SPACE

The MarsSuit Project is underway at UC Berkeley, led by professor Lawrence Kuznetz (right).
Credit: Lawrence Kuznetz

Being “well-suited” for Mars requires tackling an array of challenges to make a fashion statement. Thanks to university-based teamwork a novel approach has been taken to blueprint exploration attire for the Red Planet.

A collaboratory to design a spacesuit for Mars has been put in place at the University of California-Berkeley – a multidisciplinary, multi-university talent pool that includes NASA/industry partnerships.

Helmet to torso

What will a Mars spacesuit look like in the future? To maximize an explorer’s productivity on the Red Planet, different types of suits are needed from those used by Apollo moonwalkers, experts said.
Credit: NASA

The objective is to create a blue collar spacesuit, a top-to-bottom — helmet to torso – appraisal of protective clothing that allows expeditionary crews to more effectively work on Mars.

For more details, please go to my new Space.com story:

Mars Spacesuits: Designing a Blue-Collar Suit for the Red Planet

http://www.space.com/36172-mars-spacesuit-design-class.html