We are proud to announce the completion of the final design of the spacesuit gloves for the PSEMU-01¹. The gloves are an essential component of the spacesuit, providing protection, dexterity, grip, and utility to the astronauts during their EVA².
Protection
The back of the gloves is made of the same micrometeorite proof material as the outer layer of the suit, ensuring that the astronauts are shielded from the harsh space environment. The gloves are designed to protect the astronauts from the extreme temperatures, radiation, and micrometeoroids.
Dexterity
The fingertips of the gloves are custom-molded, ensuring a perfect fit for each astronaut. The tips have a hard core that translates the movement of the fingers directly, providing the astronaut with direct feedback of what they are touching. The backs of the fingertips are coated with aluminum fingernails to improve the interaction with small objects or knobs.
Grip
The palms of the gloves are made with a silicon dotted fabric, and the fingers are covered with a layer of silicon that provides enough friction to to have a firm grip on tools and other objects, whether weightless or on the surface of an exoplanet.
Utility
A small LED³ light is mounted on the tip of the index finger, functioning as a hands-free flashlight. This feature provides additional visibility when needed without impeding the astronauts’ capabilities.
¹PSEMU-01: Planetary Surface Exploration Mobility Unit Version 1
²EVA: Extravehicular Activity
³LED: Light-emitting diode
