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The EMU has a combination of soft and hard components
to provide support, mobility and comfort. The
suit has 13 layers of material, including an inner
cooling garment (two layers), pressure garment (two
layers), pressure garment (two layers), thermal
micrometeroid garment (eight layers) and outer cover
(one layer).
The
materials used in the EMU include:
- Nylon
tricot
- Spandex
- Urethane-coated
Nylon
- Dacron
- Neoprene-coated
Nylon
- Mylar
- Gortex
- Kevlar
- Nomex
The
layers are cemented together to form the suit.
Compared to earlier spade suits, which which tailored
for each astronaut, the EMU has component pieces of
varying sizes that can be put together to fit any
astronaut.
| The
EMU |
| Weight:
280 lb (127 kg) on Earth
Thickness:
3/16 in (0.48 cm), 13 layers
Atmosphere:
4.3 lb/in2 (0.29 atm) of pure
oxygen
Volume:
4.4 to 5.4 ft3 (.125 to .153 m3)
without astronaut
Cost:
$12 million each
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The EMU
includes:
Maximum
Absorption Garment (MAG) Collects urine
produced by the astronaut
Liquid
Colling and Ventilation Garment (LCVG) Removes
excess body heat produced by the astronaut during
spacewalks.
EMU
Electrical Harness (EEH) Provides
connections for communications and bio-instruments
Communications
Carrier Assembly (CCA) Contains microphones and
earphones for communication
Lower
Torso Assembly (LTA) Lower half of the EMU
including pants, knee, and ankle joints, boots and
lower waist
Hard
Upper Torso (HUT) Hard fiberglass shell that
supports several structures including the arms, torso,
helmet, life-support backpack and control module
Arms
Gloves
Outer and inner gloves
Helmet
Extravehicular
Visor Assembly (EVA) Protects the astronaut
from bright sunlight
In-suit
Drink Bag (IDB) Provides drinking water for
the astronaut during the spacewalk
Primary
Life Support Subsystem (PLSS) Provides
oxygen, power, carbon dioxide removal, cooling water,
radio equipment and warning system.
Secondary
Oxygen Pack (SOP) Provides emergency oxygen
supply
Display
and Control Module (DCM) Displays and
controls to run the PLSS
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