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A Canadian Space Agency Mini-Package
This mini-package is intended to complement your existing space studies’ unit,
particularly on the topic of spacesuits and the hazardous conditions in space, which
requires them. It includes a Student Fact Sheet, describing the adverse environment
found in space, along with 3 creative activities and 1 scientific demonstration for
students who wish to further explore this fascinating topic.
INCLUDES:
This publication may be reproduced without permission, provided the source (Canadian
Space Agency) is fully acknowledged.
Information provided courtesy of NASA.
The Need for Spacesuits
Although inside the space shuttle temperature and atmosphere are controlled, outside is a
completely different story. Outer space is a very hostile environment, requiring special
equipment and clothing if one is to venture out into it. Let’s take a look at some of the
qualities of space.
The principal characteristic of space is the vacuum. The gravitational attraction of
large bodies in space such as planets and stars pulls gas molecules close to their
surfaces leaving the space between quite empty. Some stray gas molecules are found
between these bodies, but their density is so low that they can be thought of as
practically non-existent.
On Earth, the atmosphere exerts pressure in all directions. In the vacuum of space,
where there is no pressure from the outside, the air inside our lungs would
immediately rush out; dissolved gases in body fluids would expand, pushing solids
and liquids apart. The skin would expand like an inflating balloon.
Bubbles would form in the bloodstream and render blood ineffective as a transporter
of oxygen and nutrients to the body's cells.
Furthermore, the sudden absence of external pressure balancing the internal pressure
of body fluids and gases would rupture fragile tissues such as eardrums and
capillaries.
As you can see, the effect of being in space without protection would be devastating.
And there are other problems too, such as the temperature range. If you are facing
the Sun the temperature can be as high as 120 degrees Celsius, while if you are on
the shaded side it can drop to about -100 degrees Celsius!
Other environmental factors encountered include radiation of electrically charged
particles from the Sun, ultraviolet radiation and micrometeoroids (very small bits
of rock travelling at high velocities). Though usually small in mass, these particles
travel at such high velocities that they could easily penetrate human skin and thin
metal.
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The Extravehicular Mobility Unit, worn by Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Chris
Hadfield represents more than 50 years of development and testing. It consists
of 12 layers to protect astronauts during EVA's. The two inner layers comprise
the liquid-cooling and ventilation garment. Next comes the pressure bladder layer
followed by a seven-layer thermal micrometeoroid garment.
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Activity 1: Build a Spacesuit
In this creative activity, your students will design and build their own, wearable
space spacesuits.
You will need:
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A wearable paper suit from a paint store
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Photos of astronauts in their EVA suits
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Variety of duct tapes/hockey tapes (all colours)
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Dryer hose tubing
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Cereal or other flat boxes
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Odds and ends
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Glue/tape/scissors/felts
Instructions
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Obtain some kind of wearable “paper suit” from a local paint store or hardware
store;
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Obtain photos of astronauts wearing their Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) Suits
and note all the details;
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Have students decorate their suits using various coloured tapes, dryer hose
tubing, and other kinds of tubes and felts;
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Using the cereal box, have students create a control box for their suit;
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Add lots of pockets and tethers for your suit, so your space tools won’t float
away!
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Through the Canadian Space Agency, you can obtain stickers of the various
Canadian mission patches and logos for students to add to their spacesuits;
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Divide students into “crews”, and have them create their own mission patches to
add to their suits;
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Your spacesuits are now ready to wear; good luck on your mission!
Activity 2: Build a Space Helmet
In this creative activity, students will build an accompanying space helmet, to go
with their Spacesuits.
NOTE: allow at least 5 days for this activity.
You will need:
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A 16 inch balloon
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Paper maché
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Newspaper
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White paint
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White duct tape
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A knife
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A few pots
Instructions
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Have each student blow up one 16-inch balloon and tie it off;
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The balloon needs to “sit” in something hard and stable in order for you to work
on it. A bowl or pot works great for this.
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Tear the newspaper into dozens of long, narrow strips.
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Mix the papier maché and have it near you in another bowl.
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Papier maché the entire balloon twice over. Let it stay in its bowl or pot to
dry overnight.
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Repeat step 2 to 5, and again, let the balloon dry overnight (the balloon has
now been covered four times).
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Using a sharp knife carefully cut out a generous hole at the bottom, big enough
to be able to fit your head through comfortably. You may want to do this for
your students.
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Cut out an area for your face (called a visor) so you can see through. Put the
cut-out piece aside;
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Using white duct tape (easily obtainable at a hardware store) tape over all the
edges to keep the papier maché from wearing away.
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Paint the entire helmet white, and allow overnight drying.
Activity 3: The Paper Spacesuit
Group Activity!
This is a great activity where students will work in-groups and create spacesuits,
which you can hang up in the classroom.
You will need:
Instructions
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Place students into groups of 5 or 6
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Have one student lie down on the sheet of paper; have the other students in the
group trace her/him.
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Onto the traced outline, students will begin drawing the rest of the spacesuit.
This includes parts such as the helmet, gloves, boots, logos, lights, gadgets
and dials, etc.
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Cut out the drawn spacesuit and have students continue 'decorating it' on the
backside.
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Your spacesuits are now ready to be hung up and displayed!
Activity 4: The Atmospheric Pressure Demonstrator
Atmospheric pressure is the weight of the atmosphere pushing down on us. Without it
human beings cannot survive, and for this reason, astronauts' spacesuits are
pressurized. This activity demonstrates the importance of the pressurized spacesuit
by demonstrating what happens to a balloon when the atmospheric pressure is removed
from a bottle.
You will need:
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1 wine bottle
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1 wine pump
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A small balloon
Instructions
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Obtain an empty wine bottle and a wine pump (such as EpiVac; approx. $10.00)
purchasable from most liquor or kitchen supply stores.
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Put a tiny amount of air into a small balloon, and insert the balloon into the
bottle.
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Explain to the students what atmospheric pressure is, and that there are equal
amounts of atmospheric pressure inside the bottle, as there is in the room.
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Field the question 'what would happen to the balloon if we removed the
atmospheric pressure from the bottle?’
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Place the wine pump on the bottle, and begin pumping. Tell the students to keep
their eyes on the balloon.
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After 2-3 minutes, students will observe a noticeable difference in the size of
the balloon (it got bigger!).
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Discuss the importance of the pressurized suit to the human body. What other
kinds of suits are there that need to be pressurized?
Finish the Space Suit!
You can colour this space suit as well as add buttons, dials and stripes!
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