RISD + NASA Lunar Lander Suitlock Project
Collaboration with Johnson Space Center's Habitability Design Center
Summer 2007 & 2008
This project was a collaboration between the Rhode Island School of Design and NASA's Johnson Space Center Habitability Design Center to design an airlock for a new lunar lander. Starting with NASA's existing hard-bodied rear-entry suit design, our team explored how to create a "suitlock"--a modified airlock and bulkhead wall that would streamline the process of donning the suit and mitigate dust contamination in the astronauts' living quarters.
As a member of the design team I participated in all aspects of the project: research and evaluation of ergonomic concerns, concept development, and building of full-scale mock-ups of two airlock concepts as well as a "feels-like" model of the space suit. I also prepared drawings for review by NASA personnel and drafted all patterns for the soft parts of the suit.
More info and video at RISD.
photo credit: Jill Peterson
Fiberglass + fabric suit mock-up, photo: Jill Peterson
Human factors testing, photo credit: Stephanie Ewan
Finished suitlock model A (seated)
Suitlock "A" donning process
Airlock module, front
Final suitlock model B (standing)
Drawings prepared for NASA review, Suitlock B (standing entry)
Drawings prepared for NASA review, Suitlock B (standing entry)
Drawings prepared for NASA review, Suitlock B (standing entry)