The development of the ECS¹ for the PSEMU² has reached a significant milestone. After months of meticulous design, fabrication, and testing, the final design of the ECS is now completed. The next step in the development of the ECS is the fabrication of the test and flight architecture. This involves the creation of physical prototypes which will be used for extensive testing and evaluation.
Testing
Rigorous testing is an essential part of its development process. All components of the assembly undergo thorough testing to ensure their performance, reliability, and safety in the harsh space environment. The flat tubular webbing used is made of a durable polyamide and has a tensile strength of 20kN³ (2039 kilograms). The quick release connectors have a minimum breaking strength of 18kN (1835 kilograms). The testing process for the ECS involves a combination of functional testing, environmental testing, and performance testing to simulate the challenging conditions that the system will encounter during space missions.
Comfort
Comfort is a crucial factor in the design of the ECS. Astronauts will be wearing the spacesuit and the ECS for extended periods of time during missions, and comfort plays a significant role in their ability to perform tasks efficiently and effectively. The ECS is designed to distribute the weight of the backpack and other attached hardware evenly across the astronaut’s body to minimize discomfort and strain.
¹ECS: External Carrying System
²PSEMU: Planetary Surface Exploration Mobility Unit.
³kN: kilonewton is a unit of force in the metric system, equal to 1000 Newtons.
