Indian astronaut Shubhashu Shukla is preparing to travel to the International Space Station (ISS). He has three international crewmates with him and has been placed in pre-launch quarantine. This mission will be launched on June 8 from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in the U.S.with the help of SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft developed by Elon Musk’s company. Shubhashu Shukla will become the first Indian astronaut to travel to the ISS.
Spacesuits Price
Spacesuits for astronauts are highly expensive. NASA’s space suits price started from $10 million to $22 million, depending on the model and features. These suits are designed to protect astronauts in the dangerous environment of space.
NASA is currently developing the xEMU spacesuit, which costs around $1 billion (Rs 8,355 crore). This high price is due to the advanced technology by which the suit is made. It will help to keep astronauts safe during missions. The spacesuits used in the Apollo missions of 1974 cost $15–22 million, adjusted for inflation will cost $83–122 million today.
Why Are Spacesuits Expensive?
Spacesuits are made to protect astronauts from extreme conditions, like temperatures from -150°C to +120°C. They also save from radiation and micrometeoroids. Each suit has systems like oxygen supply, temperature regulation, and carbon dioxide removal. To make these features available the materials and advanced technology is needed which increases the cost of the suit.
It also has built-in computers, air conditioning, oxygen supply, drinking water, and even an integrated toilet.
Spacesuits also give backup systems for oxygen and remove carbon dioxide using a fan mechanism. This backup is very useful during emergencies. The suit protects astronauts from the sun’s harmful rays, extreme cold, and sudden temperature changes in space.
