NASA’s Z-2 Spacesuit…For Future Mars Missions

NASA’s Z-2 Spacesuit…For Future Mars Missions

By E. Stanley Ukeni

I have just one word to describe the recently unveiled NASA’s Z-2 astronauts’ spacesuit—awesome. This snazzier looking, and technologically more advanced version of the previous, bulkier, Z-1 prototype that NASA unveiled last year—as a result of a design competition that the U.S. space agency organized.

In this current spacesuit model, NASA engineers incorporated a futuristic high-tech cover layer design elements, which had never before been used in spacesuit design—such as electroluminescent technology. This NASA’s ultra-high tech Z-2 spacesuit is the newest prototype—envisaged for use on a future manned exploration of the planet Mars, and beyond. It is expected that a further enhanced version of this suit would one day be worn by the first humans to set foot on the red planet.

A statement from the space agency explains: “NASA is developing the next generation of suit technologies that will enable deep space exploration by incorporating advancements such as re-generable carbon dioxide removal systems and water evaporation systems that more efficiently provide crew members with core necessities such as breathing air and temperature regulation”.



Unlike the current astronauts’ spacesuits design, which is modular, and so have to be worn piece by piece, the Z-2 spacesuit is designed in such a manner that astronauts can literarily climb into it through the back, and is designed with the with the astronauts’ safety and comfort in mind. Furthermore, the spacesuit is designed for use both in outer space and on planetary surfaces.      

NASA’s official website indicates that the space agency is in the process of comprehensively testing the Z-2 spacesuit, in addition to its standard fit checks and mobility evaluations.



The website further states that “NASA engineers will conduct multiple vacuum chamber tests, including one series at full vacuum—mimicking the lack of atmosphere found in space. The suit will be tested at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston in the Neutral Buoyancy Lab—a massive indoor pool used to train astronauts to spacewalk. Further testing at a site at Johnson Space Center that imitates the rocky Martian surface will help evaluate the suit’s mobility, comfort and performance. Ultimately, all of these tests will guide engineers in designing the Z-3 spacesuit.

Since this Z-2 design is still in the prototype phase, you can be sure that there would be further enhancements and improvements to future designs before it is worn by astronauts into deep space exploratory missions. It is worth noting that NASA plans to launch a manned mission to the planet Mars by 2030. We should all be heartened that humanity is on a progressive march.



According to NASA’s official website the “Z-2 Spacesuit is a project under the Advanced Exploration Systems Division which pioneers the development and demonstration of new technologies for future human missions beyond Earth orbit as part of the Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate.”

The site further states that its “Engineers and scientists around the country are working hard to develop the technologies astronauts will use one day to live and work on Mars and safely return home from the next giant leap for humanity.”

You can follow the progress of these groundbreaking NASA engineers and scientists at http://www.nasa.gov/exploration  and http://www.nasa.gov/mars.

This article is authored and published by E. Stanley Ukeni. Copyright © 2015. All Rights Reserved. This material and other articles or stories posted on this blog site may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed, in whole or in part, without prior expressed written permission from the author, E. Stanley Ukeni. Image credit: NASA