Manufacturing and Testing of a Space Suit Arm Segment using the OFFES

The outermost fabric of an astronauts space suit is directly exposed to the various space environmental hazards and therefore has to withstand the various loads arising during EVA operation.

In a previous study phase the Outer Fabric for a European Space Suit (OFFES) has been developed using advanced technology and special surface protection components. Different design versions have been manufactured - using 3-D weaving as well as 3-D knitting technology - and were subjected to a test campaign covering the investigation of mechanical/tribological, chemical, thermooptical and micrometeorite and debris (M/D) protection properties of the material.

The current phase is concerned with the further development of the fabric for its application on a space suit. For this purpose an arm segment of a thermal and micrometeorite protection garment (TMP) has been manufactured using a further improved version of the OFFES fabrics. Tests were performed to simulate the environmentally and operationally induced impacts experienced by the fabric during EVA.

Results concerning the thermal/thermooptical properties and arm bending behaviour are presented.