Why Astronauts Sometimes Wear Orange Suits & Sometimes White? :
Have you ever wondered why astronauts wear different suits? Sometimes you can find them in an orange spacesuit and sometimes in white. NASA didn’t choose orange and white for spacesuits to be a fashion statement. However, these colors were selected after extensive tests and experiments.
Orange Advanced Crew Escape Suit (ACES):
Astronauts are found wearing the orange-colored Advanced Crew Escape Suit (ACES) while the shuttle is ascending or entering space. This particular shade of orange, known as “International Orange”, was chosen for safety reasons as it is highly visible against any landscape, especially in the sea.
ACES are designed to help astronauts escape any mishaps during the launch or landing of the space shuttle. They are equipped with:
- A parachute release and a knife to cut the parachute cords if the astronaut gets stuck.
- It even has a lifeboat in the back that inflates itself as soon as it comes into contact with water.
- ACES is also equipped with radio sets, nausea pills, strobe lights, flares, and mittens.
Suits for Extravehicular Activity (EVA):
Extravehicular Activity (EVA) suits are white in color and are worn by astronauts during spacewalks. These are designed to survive in the near vacuum of space. Since it is white in color, it reflects the strong heat of the sun. These are equipped with:
- EVAs have a temperature regulation system that recycles body sweat to keep the astronaut cool in harsh conditions.
- There is a built-in drinking system.
- EVAs have enough oxygen, battery, power, and a radio.
- These are bulkier than ACES and have a solid envelope that prevents astronauts from accessing small pieces of space
FAQ: Astronauts
What is the difference between an orange and a white astronaut suit?
The orange is the Advanced Crew Escape Suit (ACES) and the white suit is called the Extravehicular Activity (EVA) suit.
What are the orange astronaut suits for?
The suit has a Nomex cover layer in international orange instead of silver or white like previous David Clarke suits. The orange color allows rescue teams to easily identify the astronauts in case of Orbiter assistance over the ocean.
Why do astronauts wear orange jumpsuits?
The orange color of the ACES suit is intended to make the wearer more visible during an emergency landing. The EVA suit is white because that is the color that best reflects sunlight and helps keep the astronaut cool. It is also easier to spot an astronaut against the dark background of space if he is wearing a white suit.
Why do astronauts have different colored suits?
Astronauts are found wearing the orange-colored Advanced Crew Escape Suit (ACES) while the shuttle is ascending or entering space. This particular shade of orange, known as “International Orange”, was chosen for safety reasons as it is highly visible against any landscape, especially in the sea.
When did NASA use orange suits?
Since the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster in 1986, NASA has used an orange suit that includes a parachute that allows crew members to escape the spacecraft in an emergency.
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Why Astronauts Sometimes Wear Orange Suits & Sometimes White?
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