To put it simply, a space suit is a garment worn by a space traveler for the purpose of safely supporting life in the harsh environment of space while allowing the wearer to perform many desired functions. Anytime a space traveler is outside of the spacecraft, this suit is absolutely essential for survival. Often these suits are worn inside spacecraft for precautionary measures.

Different suits may be found on different missions due to differing operations and environments. For example, there have been a variety of space suits that have been used for short suborbital flights and lunar missions. Most recently, NASA released a new suit design for use in planned lunar colonies.

Modern space suits are quite complex. In addition to the basic pressure garment there are a number of equipment systems including environmental controls that keep the wearer comfortable and special joint mechanisms to minimize forces needed to bend limbs.

In order to freely move outside the spacecraft, some suits can support maneuvering units that incorporate propulsion devices. Of course, a self-contained oxygen supply is usually part of the environmental control system.

There are three categories of space suit for differing uses. One type is used for intravehicular activity (IVA), one for extravehicular activity (EVA) and one for intra/extravehicular activity (IEVA).

IVA suits are worn inside a pressurized spacecraft. So, they have less mass and offer more comfort. IEVA suits can be used inside and outside of the spacecraft. EVA suits are used outside of the spacecraft and for planetary exploration.

In summary a space suit must perform several functions to ensure safety for the occupant while outside of the spacecraft:

+ Maintain stable internal pressure while providing breathable oxygen
+ Eliminate carbon dioxide
+ Permit mobility
+ Regulate temperature
+ Include a communications system
+ Collect and contain solid and liquid bodily waste

In reality, some of these suits have many of the same systems as spacecraft.

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