PUBLISHER: Allied Market Research | PRODUCT CODE: 1298333
PUBLISHER: Allied Market Research | PRODUCT CODE: 1298333
Spacesuits are made up of various layers such as thermal control layer, which regulates the temperature inside the suit and prevents the astronaut from overheating or getting too cold. Thermal layers are usually made of materials that can absorb and store heat such as Nomex or Goretex. The third layer is the pressure layer, which provides the pressure needed to keep astronauts alive in the vacuum of space. This layer is usually made of a rubbery material like neoprene that stretches and contracts with the astronaut's movements.
Inside the suit are additional layers that provide life support systems such as oxygen, carbon dioxide removal, and temperature regulation. The suit is also equipped with a communication system that allows the astronaut to communicate with the spacecraft and other crew members
A hybrid spacesuit has a hardshell part and a fabric part. NASA's Outboard Mobility Unit uses a fiberglass reinforced fuselage (HUT) and fabric limbs. The ILC Dover I-Suit replaces the stiff torso with a soft fabric torso to save weight and limit the use of stiff components to the pivot bearings, helmet, waist seal, and rear entry hatch.
Hybrid suits are a combination of hard material and soft material designed to provide extreme comfort and flexibility to the astronauts. In 2020, NASA developed a hybrid spacesuit intelligent architecture with soft-robotic elements to the gas-pressurized spacesuit to enable enhanced dexterity, and improve comfort to facilitate both scientific and exploration operations on planetary missions. Moreover, manufacturers provide hybrid space suits to increase flexibility and mobility. For instance, Oceaneering International offers EXploration Space Suit (EXS) which is a hybrid suit, containing design elements from both hard and soft suit designs. The upper body of the suit is made of a hard composite material, while the lower body, arms and legs are made of a soft, stretchy material that allows for greater flexibility and freedom of movement. Such developments are expected to propel the growth of the segment in the market.
The spacesuit market is segmented on the basis of type, material, end-use, and region. Based on type, it is segmented into IVA suits, and EVA suits. On the basis of material, it is classified into soft shell, hard shell and hybrid. By end-use, it is categorized into spaceflight mission, and training. By region, the market is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.
Some major companies operating in the market include: Volkswagen AG, Daimler AG, Lexus, Infiniti, BMW AG, Volvo Car, Rolls-Royce plc, Aston Martin Lagonda, Tesla, and Ferrari N.VParagon Space Development Corporation, Oceaneering International, Inc., SpaceX, Boeing, David Clark Company Incorporated, ILC Dover LP, Vinyl Technologies, Inc., Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Pacific Spaceflight, and Sure Safety