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Completed TRL 2 (started at 2, targeting 3)
Space technology undergoes consistent technology-driven improvements from mission to mission. Spacesuits in particular have seengreat strides in enhancing life sustaining mechanisms for the wearer, increasing functionality of integrated components, and providingcomfort. State-of-the-art spacesuits offer enhanced mobility for walking, as opposed to “bunny-hopping,” and exhibit improved safetyand life support; however, these suits are still composed of multiple bulky layers that are heavy and typically each offer only a singlefunction—for example, one layer is dedicated entirely to cooling. These disadvantages lead to poor dexterity in the fingers and lowmobility in other parts of the suit, giving rise to the growing need for lightweight spacesuits in which materials take on and combinemultiple functionalities. I aim to address this need by developing multifunctional composite textiles. The underlying principle of thesematerials is a platform consisting of a base textile with conductive fibers and textiles directly incorporated into this base textile. Thisintegrated conductive network transports electrical signals and power throughout the textile platform to an assortment of components:textile-based sensors record temperatures and forces, Joule heating supplies heat to the fingers to protect them against frostbite, softactuators provide assisted mobility of constrained joints and enhanced dexterity of the hands, and embedded channels within theplatform itself define customizable pathways for water flow and enhanced cooling. Each textile component will first be independentlyfabricated and characterized, and they will then be integrated within the platform textile. No single component relies on any othercomponent for operation, allowing modular designs and reducing risk. This multifunctional wearable platform will combine manycapabilities within the suit, reducing the number of layers required and consequently decreasing the overall weight. In addition todirect practical use by NASA, this work will benefit users with mobility limitations or difficulty self-thermoregulating.
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