Thermal technologies for space suits

Sustaining life in the harsh vacuum of space and in the low-pressure carbon dioxide Martian atmosphere is challenging and complex. Additionally, there exists a large range of effective temperatures, and the ever-present dange r of micrometeorite and space debris impact. On Mars, as on Earth, wide cli mate differences exist at different points on the planet and temperatures v ary by several degrees even from the astronaut's feet to head levels. Astro nauts have reported cold discomfort during Extra-vehicular Activities (EVAs ), which distracted them from their work.(1) The Martian atmosphere is made up of mostly carbon dioxide at a pressure of 0.123 psia (848.1 Pa), far le ss than the Earth's atmospheric pressure of 14.7 psia (101.4 kPa). These co nditions must be quantified so engineers can develop and optimize a space s uit system for a given task. The primary factors to be considered are:(2).