Alfonso Cuaron's 'Gravity', the 2013 Hollywood movie which depicted the plight of two astronauts lost in deep space was a huge hit upon its release. But if the film is released now, people might have rejected it mercilessly, as scientists are now busy developing a spacesuit with an emergency 'take me home' button which will help them reach back in the space station. According to reports, this advanced space suit will be ready for use within the next five years.
An ultimate lifesaver for astronauts
Experts believe that this new spacesuit will emerge as an ultimate lifesaver for disoriented astronauts who get plunged into deep space. The button can either be pushed by the astronaut or can be activated by the team members who are there on the ground.
The think tank behind this spacesuit is Kevin Duda, a space engine engineer at Draper based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Kevin has researched a lot about astronauts and the environment in the International Space Station, and he has also applied for a patent for this spacesuit.
"Without a fail-proof way to return to the spacecraft, an astronaut is at risk of the worst-case scenario: lost in space. Although no timeline exists currently for the adoption of the new spacesuit idea, Draper has done some early prototyping with Nasa to refine the design and test the automatic return capabilities. Conservatively speaking, we see the development of this spacesuit in the 5-10 year range," said Kevin Duda, Daily Mail reports.
The harsh conditions in space
In the initial phase of research, Kevin Duda and his colleagues faced end number of challenges and the primary one being the absence of GPS in the space. The researchers were determined to develop the system in such a way that the spacesuit has the capability of returning to a safe zone in a precise manner without the help of GPS.
The new system should also calculate various factors like time, oxygen consumption and safety before determining an effective trajectory for a precise return. Draper also believes that the new system will also help scuba divers who get disoriented in the depths of water.
