EXPLORATIONS - Spacesuit History

EXPLORATIONS -April 3, 2002: Spacesuit History

By Paul Thompson
VOICE ONE:

This is Mary Tillotson.

VOICE TWO:

And this is Steve Ember with the VOA Special English program EXPLORATIONS. Today we tell about the
special clothes astronauts wear that protect them while they work in space.

((THEME))

VOICE ONE:

Many questions had to be answered about fifty years ago when officials first began to think about placing a
human being in space. One of the most important was how to design the special clothing needed to protect a
person from the dangers of the space environment.

A person can not work in the extremes of space without many different kinds of protection. The cold of space
will freeze skin in just moments. The fierce heat of the sun can cause severe burns. The complete lack of
atmosphere can cause the blood to boil.

And, with no oxygen to breathe, a human being will die in only a few moments. Any of these extreme conditions
would mean a quick death for someone who did not wear special protective¹ clothing.

VOICE TWO:

When humans explore and do useful work in space, they must take their natural environment with them. The
American space agency², NASA, provides astronauts with a number of things that work together to create a
protective environment. An astronaut who works³ outside the space shuttle usually is wearing more than
seventeen pieces of protective equipment.

((MUSIC BRIDGE))

VOICE ONE:

The atmosphere is about twenty-percent oxygen and eighty percent nitrogen⁴ from Earth’s surface to where
space begins at one-hundred-twenty kilometers up. Yet up at about five-thousand-four hundred meters the air
pressure is only about half of what it is on the ground. At about nineteen-thousand meters, the air is so thin and
the amount of oxygen so small that a person needs a lot of special equipment to survive.

A well-known American flyer, Wiley Post, designed one of the first successful devices⁶ to protect a pilot at
extreme heights. In Nineteen-Thirty-Three, he developed protective clothing that made it possible for him to fly
very high.

VOICE TWO:

Wiley Post made this protective clothing with the help of the Phillips Petroleum⁷ Company
and the B-F Goodrich Company. It appeared to be something a person would wear to stay
underwater for long periods of time. A large device⁵ that looked like a can surrounded the
pilot’s head. A small window in the front permitted him to see.

Wiley Post’s protective clothing was made of rubber. It could hold oxygen and provide
the needed air pressure to protect his body from the lack of pressure at a high height. This


rubber suit looked similar to a large balloon shaped like a human.

The protective rubber suit was only used a few times, but it permitted Mister⁸ Post to fly as
high as fifteen-thousand meters. That was higher than any person had ever flown. Mister
Post did not know it, but he had designed the first real spacesuit. You can see his design at
the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington D-C.

VOICE ONE:

As time passed, airplane designers made it possible for people to fly extremely high
without wearing such protection. They did this by providing almost normal air pressure inside the airplane.

This environment meant people could wear their usual clothing. A passenger airplane today provides a safe,
comfortable atmosphere inside the plane even when it is flying very high.

VOICE TWO:

Astronauts in NASA’s Mercury⁹ Program flew the first American space flights in the early Nineteen-Sixties.
Each set of protective clothing was specially¹⁰ made for each astronaut. The clothing was similar to that invented
by Wiley Post. And, it presented some of the same problems.

When air pressure filled the early spacesuit, astronauts found it difficult to move their arms or
legs. It was a little like trying to change the shape of a balloon. The pressure inside the suit
provided¹¹ protection, but made it difficult for the astronaut to move in a natural way.

Mercury astronauts usually wore the suit without air pressure inside. The Mercury spacecraft
had the needed atmospheric¹² pressure to keep the astronauts safe. The astronauts wore the suit
as a safety device in case the spacecraft suddenly lost air pressure.

VOICE ONE:

Today, astronauts wear very different protective clothing. It permits them to move, do useful tasks, and stay out
side their spacecraft in comfort and safety for several hours.

For the next few minutes, imagine you are in the space shuttle about to go out to
work in space. We will tell you how you need to get into your space clothing.

((MUSIC BRIDGE))

VOICE TWO:

You will wear a spacesuit to work in the open cargo¹³ area of
the Space Shuttle Discovery. The spacesuit is called the
shuttle extravehicular mobility¹⁴ unit or E-M-U. It was
designed to last longer and to permit more movement than
earlier spacesuits.

The E-M-U has a number of parts that an astronaut can link together by using only one
hand. The different parts are in different sizes. This makes it possible for each astronaut
to select the parts that fit correctly.

Wearing the whole E-M-U equipment adds about forty-eight kilograms to your weight. Yet, the lack of gravity in
space means you will not feel the added weight.

VOICE ONE:

You will be wearing equipment that will send medical information back to the NASA control center in Houston,
Texas. Doctors will observe your medical condition while you work in space.

On shuttle flights,
spacesuits are worn only
during liftoffs and
landings ...
... and during
spacewalks

You also will wear a device that will collect urine, the body’s liquid waste. You will be working outside the
space shuttle for about five hours. This collection device can become very necessary.

VOICE TWO:

You will also wear something called the Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment. This piece of clothing is worn
next to the skin. It helps keep the body cool by moving water through many small tubes that cover the device.

The heat from the sun can reach one -hundred-twenty degrees Celsius¹⁵ in orbit¹⁶. The material of the space suit helps
protect against this heat. The liquid cooling device also works to keep your body from becoming too hot.

Next you put on a container that holds water to drink. The container is worn near the chest. A small tube stays
near your mouth so you can drink water during your stay in space. You place a special hat on your head. It is
made of soft cloth. It also carries several communications devices including earphones and microphones¹⁷.

These communication devices will permit you to talk with other astronauts working outside the shuttle and with
crew members inside the shuttle. You can also talk with the control center in Houston, Texas.

The lower part of the spacesuit is next. It is called the Lower Torso Assembly¹⁸. It is like putting on a large pair of
pants that have boots built in the bottom of the legs.

VOICE ONE:

Next comes the upper part of the spacesuit. It is made of a hard plastic-like material. To put it on, you must hold
your arms over your head, and rise up into the upper part of the suit. The upper part of the suit also holds the
Primary Life Support System.

The life support system supplies the oxygen needed for breathing and the air pressure necessary to protect your
body. The upper part of the spacesuit also carries an emergency oxygen system in case the first system fails.

An important part of your spacesuit is the Control Module¹⁹. It lets you observe and control your oxygen system. It
is also the place you find the controls for your communications equipment. And, it tells you if you are having a
problem with any of the spacesuit’s devices.

It is time for you to link the many systems together. The oxygen is on so you can breathe. And the air pressure is
producing a normal atmosphere to protect you. Now you are ready to enter the work area of the space shuttle
Discovery.

VOICE TWO:

You will need one more piece of equipment. This is the Manned Maneuvering²⁰ Unit, or M-M-U. It connects to
your Primary Live Support System. It makes it possible for you to fly from place to place in space, away from the
Discovery.

The M-M-U is worn on the back. It is controlled by a device that is held in the hand. The jets²¹ of nitrogen gas
from the M -M-U help you move. The pressure of this gas moves you through space.

You are now ready to work in the extreme and dangerous conditions of space. You will be comfortable and able
to move. You can do the work that is needed. Then, best of all, you can return safely into the space shuttle when
your work is done.

((THEME))

VOICE ONE:

This Special English program was written by Paul Thompson. It was produced by Caty Weaver²². Our studio
engineer was Kevin Raiman. This is Mary Tillotson.

VOICE TWO:


And this is Steve Ember. Join us again next week for another EXPLORATIONS program on the Voice of
America.

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1 protective   

adj.防护的，保护的

参考例句：

• A mother naturally feels protective towards her children.做母亲的天生要保护自己的孩子。
• We feel safe with a protective device in the house.我们因为家里有了防护装置而感到安全。

2 agency   

n.经办；代理；代理处

参考例句：

• This disease is spread through the agency of insects.这种疾病是通过昆虫媒介传播的。
• He spoke in the person of Xinhua News Agency.他代表新华社讲话。

3 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

4 nitrogen   

n.[化]氮

参考例句：

• The atmosphere consist of more than 70% of nitrogen.大气中含有70%以上的氮气。
• What is the percentage of nitrogen in air?空气中所含的氮的比例是多少？

5 device   

n.器械，装置；计划，策略，诡计

参考例句：

• The device will be in production by the end of the year.该装置将于年底投入生产。
• The device will save much time and effort for us.这种装置会使我们节省大量时间和气力。

6 devices   

n.设备；装置( device的名词复数 )；花招；（为实现某种目的的）计划；手段

参考例句：

• electrical labour-saving devices around the home 节省劳力的各种家用电器
• modern labour-saving devices such as washing machines and dishwashers 诸如洗衣机和洗碗机之类的现代化省力设备

7 petroleum   

n.原油，石油

参考例句：

• The Government of Iran advanced the price of petroleum last week.上星期伊朗政府提高了石油价格。
• The purpose of oil refinery is to refine crude petroleum.炼油厂的主要工作是提炼原油。

8 mister   

n.(略作Mr.全称很少用于书面)先生

参考例句：

• Mister Smith is my good friend.史密斯先生是我的好朋友。
• He styled himself " Mister Clean ".他自称是“清廉先生”。

9 mercury   

n.汞，水银，水银柱

参考例句：

• The liquid we can see in thermometers is mercury.我们看到的温度计里的液体是水银。
• Mercury has a much greater density than water.水银的密度比水大得多。

10 specially   

adv.特定地；特殊地；明确地

参考例句：

• They are specially packaged so that they stack easily.它们经过特别包装以便于堆放。
• The machine was designed specially for demolishing old buildings.这种机器是专为拆毁旧楼房而设计的。

11 provided   

conj.假如，若是；adj.预备好的，由...供给的

参考例句：

• Provided it's fine we will have a pleasant holiday.如果天气良好，我们的假日将过得非常愉快。
• I will come provided that it's not raining tomorrow.如果明天不下雨，我就来。

12 atmospheric   

adj.大气的，空气的；大气层的；大气所引起的

参考例句：

• Sea surface temperatures and atmospheric circulation are strongly coupled.海洋表面温度与大气环流是密切相关的。
• Clouds return radiant energy to the surface primarily via the atmospheric window.云主要通过大气窗区向地表辐射能量。

13 cargo   

n.(一只船或一架飞机运载的)货物

参考例句：

• The ship has a cargo of about 200 ton.这条船大约有200吨的货物。
• A lot of people discharged the cargo from a ship.许多人从船上卸下货物。

14 mobility   

n.可动性，变动性，情感不定

参考例句：

• The difference in regional house prices acts as an obstacle to mobility of labour.不同地区房价的差异阻碍了劳动力的流动。
• Mobility is very important in guerrilla warfare.机动性在游击战中至关重要。

15 Celsius   

adj.摄氏温度计的，摄氏的

参考例句：

• The temperature tonight will fall to seven degrees Celsius.今晚气温将下降到七摄氏度。
• The maximum temperature in July may be 36 degrees Celsius.七月份最高温度可能达到36摄氏度。

16 orbit   

n.轨道；vt.使沿轨道运行；使进入轨道运行；vi.沿轨道运行，环行

参考例句：

• The space rocket was launched and went into orbit.宇宙火箭发射后进入轨道。
• We can draw the earth's orbit round the sun.我们可以画出地球绕太阳运行的轨迹。

17 microphones   

n.扩音器，麦克风( microphone的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• They descended from the plane into a forest of microphones and cameras. 他们从飞机上走下来，迎接他们的是数不清的麦克风和照相机。 来自辞典例句
• The music was amplified with microphones. 音乐声通过麦克风被放大。 来自辞典例句

18 assembly   

n.集会(不可数)；会议(可数)，装配(不可数)

参考例句：

• He took his seat in an unobserved corner of the assembly room.他在会议室一个不为人注意的犄角坐下来。
• It was very quiet in the assembly hall.会场里静悄悄的。

19 module   

n.组件，模块，模件；(航天器的)舱

参考例句：

• The centre module displays traffic guidance information.中央模块显示交通引导信息。
• Two large tanks in the service module held liquid oxygen.服务舱的两个大气瓶中装有液态氧。

20 maneuvering   

v.移动，用策略( maneuver的现在分词 )；操纵

参考例句：

• This Manstein did, with some brilliant maneuvering under the worse winter conditions. 曼施坦因在最恶劣的严冬条件下，出色地施展了灵活机动的战术，终于完成了任务。 来自辞典例句
• In short, large goals required farsighted policies, not tactical maneuvering. 一句话，大的目标需要有高瞻远瞩的政策，玩弄策略是不行的。 来自辞典例句

21 jets   

n.喷嘴( jet的名词复数 )；喷气式飞机；喷射流；煤玉

参考例句：

• The firemen directed jets of water at the burning building. 消防队员把水柱喷向燃烧着的楼房。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The giant jets that increasingly dominate the world's airways. 越来越称雄于世界航线的巨型喷气机。 来自《简明英汉词典》

22 weaver   

n.织布工；编织者

参考例句：

• She was a fast weaver and the cloth was very good.她织布织得很快，而且布的质量很好。
• The eager weaver did not notice my confusion.热心的纺织工人没有注意到我的狼狈相。