Engineers from the Austrian Space Forum and an international team of scientists have successfully tested a new exosuit with artificial muscles designed for astronauts. The trials took place at the CRATER simulated lunar site in Australia, where conditions are as close to lunar as possible.
The device is designed to be worn under a spacesuit and has two layers of “artificial muscles”: an outer layer made of durable nylon and an inner layer made of sealed thermoplastic. Key components are reinforced with Kevlar straps. This design helps preserve mobility and reduces fatigue, which is especially important for long missions on other planets.
Moving around in a spacesuit on the Moon or Mars is not easy. Pressure inside the protective shell limits movement, turning even a simple walk into a challenge. The new exosuit will significantly improve astronauts’ mobility. The next step will be to develop a hybrid version capable of switching between assistance and resistance modes. This opens the way for the suit to be used in rehabilitation for people with disabilities.
Source: Space
