thumb|200px|The Enhanced EMU Suit. The suits are white to reflect heat and to stand out against the blackness of space; the red stripes serve to differentiate astronauts.

The Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) is an independent spacesuit that provides environmental protection, mobility, life support, and communications for astronauts performing extravehicular activity (EVA) in Earth orbit. Introduced in 1982, it is a two-piece semi-rigid suit, and is one of two types of EVA spacesuits used by crew members on the International Space Station (ISS), the other being the Russian Orlan space suit. It was used by NASA's Space Shuttle astronauts prior to the end of the Shuttle program in 2011.

Suit components

right|thumb|200px| The E.M.U Display and Control Module (DCM).

The EMU, like the Apollo/Skylab A7L spacesuit, was the result of 21 years of research and development. Prior to donning the pressure garment, the crew member puts on a Maximum Absorbency Garment (MAG) (basically a modified incontinence diaper – Urine Collection Devices (UCDs) are no longer used), and possibly a Thermal Control Undergarment (long johns). The final item donned before putting on the pressure suit is the Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (LCVG), which incorporates clear plastic tubing through which chilled liquid water flows for body temperature control, as well as ventilation tubes for waste gas removal.

After donning the LCVG, the astronaut then puts on the LTA, before entering the airlock. The astronaut then dons the HUT, connects the LCVG umbilical to the umbilical in the HUT, and then locks the two parts of the suit together using the Body Seal Closure. Once the suit is turned on and checked out, the astronaut dons a "Snoopy cap", a brown and white fabric communications cap dating back to the Apollo days, which incorporates a pair of earphones and microphones, allowing the EVA astronaut to communicate with both the crew members in the orbiter and ground controllers in Houston. After donning the "Snoopy cap", the gloves and helmet are then locked on, pressurizing the suit. The suit's regulator and fans activate when the servicing umbilicals are removed and the suit reaches an internal pressure of . A typical EMU can support an astronaut for 8.5 hours, including 30 minutes of reserves in the case of primary life support failure. To perform an EVA from the shuttle, the cabin pressure was reduced from for 24 hours, after which an astronaut had to pre-breathe for 45 minutes.

thumb|NASA's Extravehicular Mobility Unit [[Vitruvian Man|Vitruvian Spaceman patch (Space Shuttle version, with three stars representing NASA's human spaceflight programs)]]

Specifications

Baseline EMU

  • Manufacturer: ILC Dover (suit) and Collins Aerospace (primary life support systems)

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Notes

References

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  • Learn About Spacesuits NASA
  • ILC Spacesuits & Related Products
  • Suited for Spacewalking Teacher's Guide
  • NASA EMU PDF
  • Shuttle Mission Images
  • Donning a Spacesuit
  • EMU Video