Chapter Links
Home
Members
Events
Projects
Gallery
Educational Outreach
Donations and Sponsors
Current Weather Reports
So you want to be an Astronaut
Mars Links
Mars Society Links
Mars Society
Founding Declaration
Mars Desert Research Station
Flashline Mars Arctic Research Station
Sign the Mars Petition
Requests concerning this Web site should be directed to the Webmaster.
General queries should be directed to MarsSocInfo@aol.com
Copyright © 2001 The Mars Society. All rights reserved.
|
NASA Information Summaries PMS-033 (JSC) Wardrobe for Space Part Two: Wardrobe for the space shuttle era (cont.) |
|||
|
Maneuvering in space The manned maneuvering unit (MMU) is a one-man, nitrogen-propelled backpack that latches to the EMU spacesuit's PLSS. Using rotational and translational hand controllers, the crewmember can fly with precision in or around the orbiter cargo bay or to nearby freeflying payloads or structures, and can reach many otherwise inaccessible areas outside the orbiter. Astronauts wearing MMU's have deployed, serviced, repaired, and retrieved satellite payloads. The MMU propellant - noncontaminating gaseous nitrogen stored under high pressure - can be recharged from the orbiter, The reliability of the unit is guaranteed with a dual parallel system rather than a backup redundant system. In the event of a failure in one parallel system, the system would be shut down and the remaining system would be used to return the MMU to the orbiter cargo bay. The MMU, which weighs 310 pounds, includes a 35-mm still photo camera that is operated by the astronaut while working in space. . |
|
||
|
Continue to Part Three: Spacesuits for space station and beyond |
|||
