Have you ever stopped to think why astronauts Always wear white suits when they’re on the moon? Has anyone thought of adopting a new color for clothing, such as black, because it is a common color in people’s daily lives?
Well, apparently, there’s a good reason why astronauts don white suits on an important mission like this one. Recently, a lot has been said about the mission Artemis 3which will take our astronauts to an unexplored part of the moon: the southern region, which is expected to be very cold.
The mission is scheduled for 2025, and by then NASA will need to develop several tools, including a suit that can withstand the entire flight.
That’s exactly what happened recently, when Axiom Space demonstrated the new suits that astronauts will use on this mission. However, unlike what we usually see, the demo featured a black version.
See the image below:
The next generation space suit. @employee specified @employee to develop suits for the Artemis III lunar mission. The first prototype was unveiled today during an event at Space Center Houston in Texas. https://t.co/qW96kLYIxl pic.twitter.com/icFDxv60IU
– NASA’s Johnson Space Center (@NASA_Johnson) March 15, 2023
“Next-generation space suit. @NASAAxiom_Space chose to develop the suits for the Artemis III mission to the lunar surface. The first prototype was revealed today during an event at Space Center Houston, TX.”
However, this will not be the color our astronauts will use, due to certain factors. Black was chosen to prevent competition from Axiom Space from copying his suit. As far as we know, it will only be used once, when the Artemis 3 project starts.
Why do astronauts have to be white?
Contrary to what many people think, choosing the color of a space suit has nothing to do with style or personal preference, but rather the color that best suits the task.
When astronauts are in places like the Moon, great care must be taken, because here on Earth the sun’s rays arrive at a lower intensity, which is not the case on the Moon. There, the astronaut ends up receiving solar radiation, which can reach extreme temperatures, such as 200°C if exposed to light or -180°C if in the shade.
Given these factors, astronauts need to dress appropriately for the mission. And this is where the reason why you can’t wear a black suit comes in: the color will absorb more of the heat contained in the space, whether on hot or cold days.
With white clothes, there would certainly be more protection, as well as help the astronauts move around. It is worth noting that it is necessary to maintain a suitable temperature inside the garment, in addition to filling it with air to provide more protection for the user.
