Thermal Vacuum Test on the Extravehicular Activity (EVA) in the Manned Space Flight

Thermal vacuum test on the astronaut's EVA in the manned space flight, which is different from integral spacecraft's, consisting of a series of test items, is characteristic of test safety, reliability and effectivity etc., and has many test items with great workload, so it is absolutely necessary to do adequate research effort in the initial manned space flight project. According to its characters and procedures, the thermal vacuum test method and technology on EVA must be learned from the common test experience for spacecraft, especially in the scheme research phase for ground simulation test on astronaut's EVA, the facility capability must be considered fully, sometimes repeated coordination must be done between the design scheme and the facility capability. This paper discusses the necessity, special problems and the resolve method of the EVA's thermal vacuum test. Combining with consideration on EVA's orbit altitudes, the outline and surface thermal character of space suit, the necessity of adopting solar simulator for providing extra heat flux is thought over, and the feasibility to realize the EVA's test through adding the special facility for crewman to the existing spacecraft test equipment is discussed, too. After analysing the requirement of the EVA's test to the thermal test facility, the primary implement scheme of the EVA's test is brought about.