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Discover the Universe: Top 8 Amazing Fun Facts About Space Suits You Never Knew!

illustration of space-suits
Get ready to blast off into a universe of quirky tidbits as we explore the out-of-this-world realm of space suits!

1. Astronaut Diapers: Houston, We Have a Pee Break!

Next time you're feeling down, just remember: even astronauts have to deal with pee breaks in their interstellar escapades! Hilarious prelude: Spacewalkers might look like they're boldly going where no one has gone before, but they're actually sporting the latest in No. 1 and No. 2 fashion, the MAG – Maximum Absorption Garment. Serious Reveal: This space-age diaper collects urine and feces during their epic seven-hour spacewalks, all contained within the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU), and is disposed of by our heroic astronauts once they return to the spacecraft.
Source => science.howstuffworks.com

2. Maximum Absorption Garments: Galactic Potty Solution!

Houston, we have a potty problem! As it turns out, astronauts on their grand space escapades have an "out-of-this-world" solution for nature's call: They wear specialized Maximum Absorbency Garments, or adult-sized diapers, to tackle the pesky issue of relieving themselves while on liftoff, landing, or spacewalks. First introduced for female astronauts in 1988 and later for males, these marvelous space nappies are tucked beneath their Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garments and can absorb up to 2 liters of urine, blood, and feces for those lengthy extraterrestrial endeavors.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

3. NASA's Glove Affair: Cash Prizes for Space-Ready Gloves!

Who knew NASA had a "glove affair" with spacesuits? As it turns out, they do: Since launching the Astronaut Glove Challenge, NASA has offered cash prizes to those able to create gloves that outperform their own Phase VI gloves, pushing innovation in spaceflight technology and even giving a $200,000 prize to engineer Peter Homer in 2007 for his homemade glove superiority.
Source => space.com

4. Transformers-Inspired Space Suits: Bespoke Meets Modular!

In a groundbreaking act of interstellar thrifty couture, space suits have gone the modular route, borrowing inspiration from shapeshifting Transformers while maintaining the bespoke touch for their human-handling gloves: Modern space suits are crafted with interchangeable parts of different sizes as a more efficient and budget-friendly alternative, customizing only the gloves for each astronaut's snug fit, and repurposing the suits for training sessions after reaching their vacuum exposure limits.
Source => spaceanswers.com

Avoiding Cosmic Choking Hazards: No Astronaut Barfing Allowed!

5. Avoiding Cosmic Choking Hazards: No Astronaut Barfing Allowed!

Houston, we have a solution: No astronaut has ever upchucked inside their helmet during a spacewalk, thanks to thorough NASA safety protocols and the ever-present fear of cosmic choking hazards.
Source => smithsonianmag.com

6. Electroluminescent Space Couture: Glow-in-the-Dark Astronauts!

In space, nobody can hear you scream... but they can definitely see you glow in the latest intergalactic haute couture: NASA's Z-2 suit, dubbed "Technology," sports electroluminescent wire and patches on its upper and lower torso that make astronauts shine blue, both in daylight and low light situations, as the funky space fashion remains in prototype and non-flight test phases for now.
Source => arstechnica.com

7. Moonwalking Shoes: Grip & Style for Lunar Adventures!

Talk about thinking on your feet: Astronauts' lunar overshoes were made of Chromel-R, a high chromium content stainless steel fabric, to protect their space boots from extreme temperatures and pesky Moon dust, while the horizontal ridges on the soles gave them an out-of-this-world grip for their moonwalking dance moves.
Source => airandspace.si.edu

8. Space Suit Art Project: Cancer Patients Create Galactic Masterpieces!

Blast off to an artistic adventure and discover the canvas that's truly out of this world: NASA, the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and ILC Dover came together for a Space Suit Art Project, collaborating with over 530 pediatric cancer patients, families, and staff members. They painted stunning, original artwork that was then stitched together to form wearable replica space suits. A cosmic combination of art therapy and awareness, these suits, like the first one called HOPE, symbolize the strength and optimism that patients and families exhibit during treatment, incorporating over 600 hand-painted pieces created by the brave souls at MD Anderson.
Source => mdanderson.org

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