Z-2 Architecture Description and Requirements Verification Results

Date

2016-07-10

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

46th International Conference on Environmental Systems

Abstract

The Z-2 Prototype Planetary Extravehicular Space Suit Assembly is a continuation of NASA’s Z series of spacesuits. The Z-2 is another step in NASA’s technology development roadmap leading to human exploration of the Martian surface. The suit was designed for maximum mobility at 8.3 psid, reduced mass, and to have high fidelity life support interfaces.

The Z-2 suit architecture is an evolution of previous EVA suits, namely the ISS EMU, Mark III, Rear Entry I-Suit and Z-1 spacesuits. The suit is a hybrid hard and soft multi-bearing, rear entry spacesuit. The hard upper torso (HUT) is an all-composite structure and includes a 2-bearing rolling convolute shoulder with Z-1 Style lower arms and an elliptical hemispherical helmet. The lower torso includes a telescopic waist sizing system, waist bearing, rolling convolute waist joint, hard brief, 2 bearing soft hip thigh, Z-1 style legs, and walking boots with ankle bearings.

The Z-2 Requirements Verification Plan includes the verification of more than 200 individual requirements. The verification methods include test, analysis, inspection, demonstration or a combination of methods. Examples of unmanned requirements include suit leakage, proof pressure testing, mass, man-loads, sizing adjustment ranges, internal and external interfaces such as in-suit drink bag, purge valve, and donning stand. Examples of manned requirements include verification of anthropometric range, suit self-don/doff, secondary suit exit method, donning stand self-ingress/egress and manned mobility covering eight functional tasks. The eight functional tasks include kneeling with object pick-up, standing toe touch, cross-body reach, walking, reach to the SIP and helmet visor.
This paper will provide an overview of the Z-2 design. Z-2 requirements verification testing was performed with NASA at the ILC Houston test facility. This paper will also discuss pre-delivery manned and unmanned test results as well as analysis performed in support of requirements verification.

Description

United States
ILC Dover
NASA Johnson Space Center
400
ICES400: Extravehicular Activity: Space Suits
Vienna, Austria
David Graziosi, ILC Dover, USA
Jinny Ferl, ILC Dover, USA
Linda Hewes, ILC Dover, USA
Steven Scarborough, ILC Dover, USA
Bobby Jones, ILC Dover, USA
Amy Ross, NASA JSC, USA
Richard Rhodes, NASA JSC, USA

Keywords

Z-2, Space Suit, Requirements Verification Results

Citation