Exploration Helmet Permanent Anti-fog Study
| dc.creator | Davis, Kristine | |
| dc.creator | Trude, Greg | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2023-06-15T15:01:17Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2023-06-15T15:01:17Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2023-07-16 | |
| dc.description | Kristine Davis, NASA Johnson Space Center(JSC), USA | |
| dc.description | Greg Trude, Air-Lock, Inc., USA | |
| dc.description | ICES400: Extravehicular Activity: Space Suits | |
| dc.description | The 52nd International Conference on Environmental Systems was held in Calgary, Canada, on 16 July 2023 through 20 July 2023. | |
| dc.description.abstract | For the current Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) spacesuit, an astronaut applies an anti-fog solution to the interior of the helmet bubble before each EVA. However, the anti-fog solution has been reported to cause eye discomfort during at least seven EMU EVAs when the anti-fog solution contacted the crew member’s eyes. During STS-100, astronaut Chris Hadfield reported the eye irritation temporarily blinded him during his spacewalk. In addition, the wipe on anti-fog solution is a consumable that needs to be accounted for and a supply launched for missions. To solve this, the Exploration EMU (xEMU) pressure bubble investigated using a permanent anti-fog coating during Design Verification and Test (DVT) human in the loop (HITL) events. Chosen for previous use in Constellation Space Suit develop, HTAF-601, a water based permanent anti-fog solution, was tested. However, major issues have arisen with further HITL testing with the coating. Cleaning the helmet has been a challenge to avoid damaging the permanent anti-fog coating. NASA has completed a set of different methods for cleaning the anti-fog to try to document a preferred method. Even with using a very gentle cleaning method of flushing with distilled or DI water and dabbing at facial oils, the permanent anti-fog starts to delaminate consistently after 50 hours manned pressurized time (MPT). Finally, the HTAF-601 coating is being discontinued by the vendor. Due to these issues, further investigation is being completed evaluating two solvent based anti-fog solutions: Exxene’s HCF-100 and FSI’s Visgard 106-94. Each coating will be evaluated on polycarbonate samples for application consistency, steam cycles (mimicking breath cycles), cleaning durability, haze, and light transmission. This study will determine if either coating is a viable option to pursue as a permanent anti-fog for spacesuit helmet applications. | |
| dc.format.mimetype | application/pdf | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://hdl.handle.net/2346/94486 | |
| dc.language.iso | eng | |
| dc.publisher | 2023 International Conference on Environmental Systems | |
| dc.subject | spacesuit | |
| dc.subject | xEMU | |
| dc.subject | exploration | |
| dc.subject | helmet | |
| dc.subject | anti-fog | |
| dc.subject | permanent anti-fog | |
| dc.title | Exploration Helmet Permanent Anti-fog Study | en_US |
| dc.type | Presentations |