Space suits getting a dearly needed upgrade.

The article "Slimming Down Future Spacesuits" addresses something that is surprising that it has taken this long to change: Space suits are ridiculously bulky and ungainly. The problems with this are things which make a huge difference when it comes to space travel/exploration/living.

1. With a big suit you're carrying more weight. We can't even afford to bring up food with water in it... but we're still hauling hulking masses of suits in the limited space we have?

2. Your mobility is decreased. Which is something that makes all external repairs to ships even more deadly than they already are if you have to not only fight with one of the most harsh environments in... well... the universe, but you must also contend with the fact that simple movements are nearly impossible.

3. These look sweet. The old ones don't have nearly the marketability.




























(4. On a side note the new suits are also interesting in that they could have resistance built into them because of their mechanical design. Which could help with ever present issue of how to astronauts exorcise and fight muscle atrophy?)

In any case it's good to see that the suits that we've been seeing in Science fiction for our whole lives are finally finding their way into action.