Pressure Suit : Apressure suit consists of a torso/limb suit, a pressure regulator, a pressure gauge, and a waterproof diaphragm at the neck. The torso/limb suit and helmet shell are composed of an airtight layer and a restraint layer, providing operability to maintain the suit's airtightness, withstand pressure, and maintain body shape. The pressure gauge is located on the left forearm of the spacesuit to indicate the internal pressure. Normally, under cabin pressure, astronauts wearing the suit and with their face windows closed can breathe outside air. The pressure regulator controls the specified absolute pressure inside the spacesuit under emergency spacecraft pressure conditions. At normal pressure, the suit can be manually closed to pressurize it and check its airtightness. It automatically releases air when the pressure exceeds the specified limit.
A key technology in the development of pressure suits is airtightness. The total air leakage must be ≤1 liter/minute under working pressure. The airtight zipper at the put-on and take-off points is a crucial technology.
Helmets and Gloves: The helmets worn by astronauts during spaceflight not only provide sound insulation, heat insulation, and impact protection, but also offer excellent shock absorption and lightweight performance. The helmet has a soft shell, integrated with the pressure suit, with a ventilated pad inside the helmet shell providing heat insulation and sound absorption.
The visor on the helmet's face is designed to provide astronauts with excellent visibility, allowing them to see both inside and outside the spacecraft. To expand the lateral field of vision, increase the space inside the helmet cavity, improve the visor's anti-fogging effect, and enhance observation comfort, the visor is designed as an ellipsoidal structure with uniform wall thickness. The visor's opening and closing mechanism uses a manual, double self-locking, and safety mechanism, with a long-lasting anti-fogging agent coated on the inner surface, working in conjunction with the helmet's ventilation system to prevent fogging.
The gloves worn by astronauts consist of pressure gloves, wrist disconnectors, and comfort gloves. The pressure gloves are further composed of a palm restraint component to withstand palm tension and limit palm swelling under pressure, a palm and finger pressure glove made of fabric double-sided impregnated with natural latex, and a wrist joint. Wrist disconnectors and comfort gloves each serve specific functions.
Emergency Oxygen Supply and Ventilation Components: The ventilation component employs a ducted structure. Ventilation gas enters the suit through hoses and an airflow distribution plate. Airflow is proportionally distributed to the head and extremities, then flows throughout the body, converging at the abdomen, and finally exits the suit through a pressure regulator.
During spacecraft cabin pressure emergencies, the ventilation and oxygen supply components provide oxygen to the helmet, ensuring the astronaut's breathing oxygen needs and providing ventilation and heat dissipation for the head and neck area within the pressure suit, as well as removing or diluting exhaled moisture and CO2. When the spacecraft cabin pressure is normal, and the astronaut is wearing the pressure suit and ready for deployment, cabin air is circulated throughout the body for oxygen supply, CO2 and moisture removal, and ventilation and heat dissipation.
Communication Headset: The communication headset essentially functions as a walkie-talkie. It allows astronauts wearing the pressure suit to communicate during spacecraft launch, orbital pressure emergencies, and reentry. It also effectively protects the astronaut's hearing from noise damage.
The communication headset consists of noise-canceling earmuffs, a robust and durable microphone, a mesh communication cap, and a voice amplifier that ensures audible sound pressure levels.
