Key Information
Spacesuits
| Type | Personal Equipment of Astronauts |
| Types of Spacesuits | VA (intravehicular activity); EVA (extravehicular activity); IEVA (intra/extravehicular activity) |
Learning Point
- To keep the human body safe in space, we need to wear spacesuits. Spacesuits have different designs because of the jobs they are meant for. Spacesuits protect us, keep us warm, and allow us to work in space.
- We could call spacesuits designed for use outside in space as “single-person spacecraft“.
Project
- Design your own spacesuit, highlighting key features of the design and how it could be used.
- Overview
- EMU
Location
| Places we have worn spacesuits | Earth, the Moon, and between the Earth and Moon |
Fun Facts
- Spacesuits create pressure to keep the human body the right shape.
- Some suits have “rocket” packs added to allow the astronaut to move around.
- Spacesuits are expensive, the 18 NASA made in 1974 cost between $15 million and $22 million, that’s about $150 million today. It might cost $15 million to $25 million per spacesuit if they made them now.
- NASA is developing new spacesuits, and has spent at least $420 million in testing new designs, but doesn’t yet have a suit ready to be used.
Past Lessons
| 179 | August 25, 2026 | (North America) |