The Journey of Flight.pdf - Valkyrie Cadet

Chapter Chapter 27 27 - - Manned Manned Space Space Explorations
Explorations
Work done by astronauts aboard the
space station would vary according to needs
and missions, but, in addition to regular
housekeeping chores, work would most
likely involve developing and processing
new materials, performing fundamental
medical research, performing long-duration
research, and repairing satellites and spacecraft
in orbit.
Any activity outside the space station
would require astronauts to wear space
suits. The first space walk, or extra-vehicular
activity (EVA), was accomplished by
Aleksei Leonov in March 1965, when he
went outside his Voskhod II spacecraft for
about 20 minutes. In June of that same year,
601
Taking a Look at the Hubble Space Telescope
astronaut Ed White spent 22 minutes outside his Gemini IV capsule. By 1973, Skylab astronauts were
setting duration records for EVAs with outside missions lasting more than 7 hours. Extra-vehicular
activity allowed astronauts to retrieve satellites or to repair them while they remain in orbit. Missions
such as the repair of the Hubble Space Telescope allowed Earthbound scientists to continue making
astounding new discoveries as they use orbiting satellites and telescopes to help them understand the
universe.
In the 1930s, high-altitude flyers wore pressure suits; all of the Mercury astronauts wore a modified
version of a US Navy high-altitude jet aircraft pressure suit. Mobility was quite limited in these
suits. Later designs provided greater suit mobility. During the Gemini missions, a lighter weight,
easily removable suit was developed and for the first time astronauts removed their spacesuits while in
Pressure suits worn by the seven Mercury
astronauts.
Gemini Astronauts wore
light-weight space suits.
Apollo astronauts wore a more
advanced suit for Moon walking.