The next time that astronauts set foot on the Moon, it might be in a cozier space suit that was designed at the University of Houston.
Melissa Scott-Pandorf, a doctoral student in UH’s Health and Human Perfomance program and Fellow of the Texas Space Grant Consortium (TSGC), is working on a new space suit design that will allow for better movement.
“NASA’s mission to send humans back to the Moon is closer to a reality every day,” says Scott-Pandorf. “Astronauts will need to travel easily over the planet’s terrain, meaning their mobility will be important for overall mission success.”
Watching videos of prior lunar landings, Scott-Pandorf is observing the motion challenges faced by prior astronauts. She’s also employing a weight suspension system in UH’s unique Laboratory of Integrated Physiology.
“We’re hoping our new research projects will lead to a streamlined space suit that makes it easy to navigate the terrain,” she says.
UH is part of TSGC, which supports educational and research projects that further NASA’s mission: to protect and understand our planet, improve life on Earth, extend life beyond our planet and explore the universe.
To learn more about the UH Department of Health and Human Performance, please visit www.hhp.uh.edu/.
