![]() |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
![]()
Hello Everyone,
I've been think about the requirements for the external garment worn with a Mars Surface Spacesuit. Of course a TMG for Mars would be greatly influenced by the type of suit under it whether it's a MCP or soft or hard suit, still we should be able to narrow the types of suitable fabrics for a TMG. Typically Kevlar or Vectran are mentioned to me when a single material is suggested and although they are in use in the space related activities, Ortho-Fabric (Kevlar as rip-stop with Gor-Tex and Nomex) of EMU and in the Pathfinder, MER and Beagle II Airbags (Vectran) they quickly break down under UV. Considering the possibilities of super peroxides, the abrasiveness of the regolith, extreme cold environment, UV exposure and the long duration these suits will be subjected to these conditions weaves of several fibers maybe best. But these conditions will enviably expose these weave's component fibers to things they don't tolerate well. Anyway, for a variety of reasons I've been looking at current sailcloths for the properties best suited for fabricating these TMGs from. Some of my reasons being they spend lots of time looking for performance characteristics similar to those need in a Mars Suit outer garment. They require light weight, durable material with high tenacity and flexure among other properties. I think old standards of sailcloth making like Cotton Canvas, Nylon, Dacron or Orlon might beat out such new comer as Spectra, Vectran and Kevlar. Spectra is susceptible to creep, Vectran and Kevlar are degrade exposed to UV and aren't as flexible. So what material is your current favorite? What is your reasoning? --Chris Vancil |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
![]() |
||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Supporting a Mars mission | bob haller | Space Shuttle | 36 | April 5th 04 09:02 AM |
Mars: meaningless step for man, giant waste for mankind | geo | Space Science Misc | 0 | April 3rd 04 02:09 PM |
Why We Shouldn't Go To Mars | Jon Berndt | Space Shuttle | 11 | February 18th 04 03:07 AM |
Mars | Gordon Muir | Space Shuttle | 1 | August 15th 03 04:29 PM |
Mars Global Surveyor Images - July 3-9, 2003 | Ron Baalke | Science | 0 | July 9th 03 04:55 PM |