NASA Mars Mission News: What Would Humans Wear On Red Planet?

Everyone knows that Mars has one of the harshest environments in the Solar System. Still, it is also one of the very few places where it is possible to start a human colony. In a few more years, humans could successfully set foot on the Red Planet and if it happens, what can we do to protect ourselves from Mars’ extreme living conditions?

According to CNN, figuring out what humans will wear on Mars is no small matter. In fact, without the proper protection, our blood can turn to gas even before stepping out on Planet Mars. Scientists from the U.S. space agency, NASA, already has something to address this extreme consequence.

According to Amy Ross, head of the Advanced Spacesuit and Technology Lab at NASA's Johnson Space Center, the agency now has new prototypes that offer the protection of classic NASA spacesuits used for decades without the puffiness.

The prototype is labeled Z-Series and according to Ross, it might still end up looking puffy and white if all the features astronauts need to survive Mars will be put in place.

"That's one of the big differences going forward, is how [good] the mobility of the full body is. Our prime objectives, which sounds very Star Trek-y, is to make sure that we're ready with the right tools for spacesuit design to go wherever we might need to go," Ross said.

Although there’s still no final “look” of how the suit will turn out, some private space companies will most likely have a more attractive, space age-y suit for marketing purposes.

Richard Branson, for example, who plans to bring space tourists onboard a Virgin Galactic spaceship said that passengers won’t be needing extra special space suit for his company’s suborbital trips. The company, however, partnered with Under Armour to come up with fitting body suits that pretty much fulfills one’s idea of how a modern space suit should look like.

Boeing and SpaceX, two companies that have contracts with NASA under its commercial space program, have also come up with their own versions of a space suit. Elon Musk’s company designed a modern spacesuit that incorporates the astronaut’s need for water and oxygen without compromising mobility. The SpaceX spacesuit was conceptualized in a way that power, water and air connections pass through one panel right by the suit's right thigh.

Aside from the Z-Series, NASA is also trying to come up with a Biosuit that could apply pressure directly to the astronaut’s skin. This way, internal fluids won’t go haywire when exposed to Mars’ weak atmosphere. This could result in a thinner suit that would make moving around the Red Planet easier for the first man on Mars