SpaceX Demo-2 astronauts Robert Behnken and Douglas Hurley are now inside the suit room in the Astronaut Crew Quarters inside Kennedy’s Neil Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building. SpaceX suit technicians are helping them as they get dressed in their suits, check the communications and ensure there are no leaks.
SpaceX spacesuits are designed for safety and functionality – but with a nod to comfort and style. The primary purpose of the spacesuit is to provide a cocoon of pressurization, protecting from potential depressurization. A port on the suit’s thigh connects to life support systems, including air and power. The suits also include touchscreen-compatible gloves and a flame-resistant outer layer. The helmet is custom manufactured using 3-D printing technology and includes integrated valves, mechanisms for visor retraction and locking, and microphones.
Like so many other facilities at the Florida spaceport, the suit room has a fascinating history. In this room, Apollo and shuttle crews suited up for flight. Before today, the last crew to suit up in this room was the STS-135 crew, which included Hurley, the mission’s pilot, in July 2011.