The stark necessity of the spacesuit is the focus of Jared Owen’s detailed explanation, which defines the spacesuit as a "human-shaped spacecraft, just big enough for one person". Jared Owen established that survival in space is impossible without this specialized gear, noting that our bodies, which are used to Earth’s air, atmospheric pressure, comfortable temperature, and protection against radiation and micrometeoroids, would lose consciousness in seconds and only survive "maybe a few minutes" without the suit. The challenge, as presented by Jared Owen, is creating suits that are flexible enough "to do complex tasks in space" while still providing oxygen, maintaining pressure, and keeping the temperature comfortable.
The current suit used for extravehicular activity (EVA) on the International Space Station (ISS) is the EMU spacesuit, which has been in use for more than 40 years. Jared Owen divided the EMU into two main components: the Pressure Garment System and the PLSS (Portable Life Support System), the latter being what "keeps you alive inside that shell". Preparation begins with the astronaut wearing a MAG (Maximum Absorption Garment), essentially an adult diaper necessary for trips that can last up to eight hours. Next is the LCVG (Liquid Cooling Ventilation Garment), which has nearly "100 meters of tubing" circulating water to keep the astronaut cool against the heat trapped by the suit.
Related article - Uphorial Shopify
The Pressure Garment System is an intricate, multi-layered shell, much of it "sewn by hand". The internal layers include the pressure bladder, a tough, rubbery-coated fabric that holds pressure like a balloon, and the restraint layer, a tough woven fabric that supports the loads for the bladder. Jared Owen likened the joints of these layers to "bendy straws" that are carefully shaped to allow specific movement. The outer layers, called the Thermo Micrometeoroid Garment, include multiple layers of tinfoil-like insulation to withstand extreme temperatures. The outermost shell is the ortho-fabric, made from materials also used in "bulletproof vests," and the suit is white because this color "reflects the sunlight" and helps maintain a comfortable temperature.
Jared Owen provided specific details on the PLSS backpack, calling this critical system a "well-maintained vintage sports car". Only 18 were ever made, with only 11 in use today, and "each costing up to 150 million in today's dollars". The PLSS contains several batteries, primary and secondary oxygen tanks for breathing, special canisters to remove carbon dioxide, and water tanks used to cool the suit via the LCVG. A fan and pump motor circulate air and water, and the sublimator turns ice into a gas to vent into space, getting rid of some of the heat.
The EMU suit is complex to put on, weighing about "275 pounds here on Earth". Jared Owen personally demonstrated the process, starting with the astronaut getting inside the lower torso, often called the "most expensive pants you'll ever wear," which is then sealed to the Hard Upper Torso (HUT). The HUT, a fiberglass shell, holds a simple drinking bag. The display and control module has mirrored text that the astronaut must view using a small mirror on their wrist for adjustments. Mobility in the EMU is limited, especially in the legs, meaning "most of the work is done with the upper body". For safety, astronauts work in pairs, using multiple tethers. In the unlikely event of detachment, they would use SAFER (Simplified Aid For EVA Rescue), a small jet pack.
Given the age of the EMU, the next generation suit will be the Ax EMU, designed by Axiom Space based on NASA's research for the Artemis missions. Jared Owen highlighted that the Ax EMU will be easier and faster to enter, opening from the back to allow the astronaut to climb in feet first. These new suits will be much more flexible, allowing astronauts to "crouch or kneel to collect samples," and the PLSS will use newer technology for longer spacewalks. The helmet shape will also allow for a wider range of view. Jared Owen concluded by reiterating the fundamental purpose: the spacesuit is "more than just clothing," it is a personal spacecraft meant to keep the wearer alive in the vacuum of space.
