Air-Lock, Incorporated proposes to design an Enhanced Shoulder Mobility Joint Assembly (ESMJA) that increases dynamic mobility and static sizing capabilities for spacesuited crewmembers (CM) employing a Hard Upper Torso (HUT). The proposed shoulder joint will allow historically fixed Hard Upper Torsos to be sized in-situ by crewmembers of varying anthropometries. The Shoulders will also increase CM range of motion in a pressurized spacesuit and incorporate must mitigating strategies geared towards lunar exploration. Throughout Phase One, Air-Lock will exhibit the following innovations: • Design pressure sealed ESMJA that optimizes mobility and sizing characteristics of Hard Upper Torso Advanced Planetary Spacesuits. • Utilize 3D CAD software to design, develop and integrate the ESMJA with the MK-III HUT. • Perform a materials evaluation in order to determine the lightest, most robust material to be use in the manufacture of the ESMJA. • Create a matrix highlighting sizing potential and added mobility (i.e., range of motion). • Perform a comparative analysis of the sizing and mobility matrix to historic NASA anthropometry data to determine the optimum HUT sizes required to outfit current NASA astronaut corp.
Hard Upper Torso Shoulder Joint Design for Crew Member Sizing Adjustment and Enhanced Mobility, Phase I