The physical effects experienced by the fighter pilot, as a
result of rapid changes in the acceleration, influence the movement of his
body. Typically, in few seconds a pilot weighing 160 pound can feel a nine
times gain in his weight reaching to 1440 pounds.
Suiting for astronauts is another interesting area of
textiles contribution in space operations. The influenced of surrounding
experienced by the astronauts is verily different from the one dealt by the
pilots. The clothing used in space crafts is generally called space suits. The
missions involved in the study of space exploration had used the engineered
textile clothing. For example, NASA (National Aeronautic and Space
Administration) had been an important user of space suit pressure garment.
Apollo A7LB was the first highly mobile space suit that helped astronauts to walk
on the lunar surface in late 1960s (8).
Apollo, Skylab, Space Shuttle, International Space Station
(ISS) and Constellation had befitted from the performance of textile materials.
However, all these were of highly specialized nature in design, material
development, fabrication, testing and quality assurance relative to the
conventional textiles.
In space shuttle the requirements for the mobility of
astronauts are inevitable, and these significantly depend upon the design and
nature of spacesuit. Extra- Vehicular Activity (EVA) is influenced by the
space-suit performance. Space Shuttle Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) can be
described as a waist entry suit with a hard upper torso (HUT) and relatively
softer mobility joints made of fabric (9). EMU suits were particularly to work
in zero gravity.
For planetary exploration, improved mobility and waist
flexing are important for moving down and up for kneeling and ground features
study. Entry method is considered as a desired feature, and the space suits had
been named in terms of entry types. These include waist entry, rear entry, bi-planar
entry and soft zipper type entry. Several characteristics of space- suit
including suit sizing, suit mass, suit volume, suit comfort etc., are resulted
from the entry type.
The considerations of vehicle and surrounding interfaces
including air locks, hatches and manned rover (a small vehicle launched from a
Lander and used to explore the surface of the moon or planet) are addressed in
the design of entry type. Mission requirements and functional performance of
astronauts are different for zero gravity operation, where EMU is used,
relative to the planetary activity.
There had been significant interest in the continual
improvement of I-Suit for achieving desired performance. There was Desert
Research and Technology Study (RATS) led by advanced Extravehicular Activity
(EVA) team from NASA Johnson Space Center with the participation of ILC Dover (10).
The Desert RATS testing confirmed the easy character of
donning (to put-on) and doffing (to take-off) of rear entry I-Suit.
The aerospace suits are the special textile clothing
articles to work in space. Textile fabric with specific character can be used
in producing devices that assist the movement and transportation of objects in
aerospace.
Parachute is a type of space textiles contributing in the
space operations. It is effectively contributing in aerospace motion for men
and materials. Parachutes help the safe decent of person or material from
aerospace to ground surface. These can also be used for horizontal deceleration
of fixed- wing aircraft.
The introduction of parachute is more of innovative
discovery in nature, rather than a tool developed for war time games. To date,
it has significant contribution in peaceful and life supporting aero-
transportation of goods.
Interestingly the early developing activity for parachutes
had used a dog as passenger in demonstration. The textile part used was made of
linen stretched over wooden frame. Later on silk was used for being lighter and
stronger. The evidence for the development of parachute can be traced in 9th
century; however, the roots of modern parachute may be in the 18th
century (1783) in France (11).
