Space Suit Trivia

Image: Pete Conrad's Apollo 12 suit from NASA. 
Artsy effects: Mickey Kulp

The first US suit worn in space was made for astronaut Alan Shepard when he flew on May 5, 1961 during Project Mercury.

The reason that modern suits are white is because white reflects heat in space the same as it does here on earth. Temperatures in direct sunlight in space can be over 275 degrees Fahrenheit.

There is no difference in a male or female suit, though the female usually requires a smaller size.

The first EVA using suits for the Space Shuttle was performed by astronauts Story Musgrave and Donald Peterson on April 7. 1983.

The Apollo suit was designed for only one mission and it had to be lightweight to allow the astronauts to do work on the moon.

The Shuttle suit is designed only to work in zero gravity where the astronaut does not feel the weight of the suit, and it is designed to last for up to 15 years on many missions.

There are two main parts to a space suit: an inner pressurizable part and an outer protective part.

Oxygen is directed to the helmet from inlet gas connectors on the suit, down over the body, to the arm and leg extremities, and then is directed through ducts to the exhaust gas connectors.

More info here: https://history.nasa.gov/spacesuits.pdf

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