/ News
NASA shows off next-generation Z-2 spacesuits, makes us question its fashion sense
NASA has revealed its newest range of next-generation spacesuits, the Z-2. The Z series of spacesuits is a series of prototypes that NASA is working its way through, with the eventual goal of creating a suit that will be used during future space walks, deep space missions, and planetary EVAs (i.e. walking on Mars). In 2012 it was the Z-1, which bore more than a passing resemblance to Toy Story‘s Buzz Lightyear (pictured below) — and now we have three Z-2 designs that are, in a word, otherworldly.
Working with ILC Dover (famous for working with NASA on many projects, including the spacesuits used by the Apollo program) and Philadelphia University, NASA is presenting three Z-2 designs for consideration. The idea is that we (you and I) will take a look at these suits, decide which design we like the most, and then vote on which one will be turned into an actual prototype. You have until April 15 to vote, and the spacesuit will be fully built by November 2014. The completed Z-2 suit will then be used to perform lots of testing here on Earth, to inform the creation of yet another prototype (the Z-3, presumably). It isn’t clear how many prototypes NASA intends to produce, but there is a plan to test out a Z-series suit on the International Space Station in 2017 — which, given the turnaround time of these things, would probably be the Z-3.
The three Z-2 designs are called Biomimcry, Technology, and Trends in Society (really). The Biomimicry suit draws on the fact that Earth’s oceans are quite similar to outer space: “Mirroring the bioluminescent qualities of aquatic creatures found at incredible depths, and the scaly skin of fish and reptiles found across the globe, this design reflects the qualities that protect some of Earth’s toughest creatures,” says the NASA Z-2 website. The electroluminescent wire makes the astronaut visible in low-light. The Technology suit is basically the same deal, but with a sci-fi design aesthetic instead. The oddly named Trends in Society suit uses “a bright color scheme to mimic the appearance of sportswear and the emerging world of wearable technologies.”
Despite their outwardly different designs, the suits appear to all have the same exciting set of features. NASA will use 3D laser scanning and 3D printing to customize parts of the Z-2 for each astronaut. Each Z-2 will also have a different covering layer — so each suit could have a unique electroluminiscent pattern on the front, for easy identification. The suits will also support the new suitport/suitdock concept — a new spin on airlocks, where the suit itself is the airlock (the diagram on the right explains it much better than my own words). If we ever send humans to Mars or Titan or some other extraplanetary body, suitports will likely be used.
Personally, I’m voting for the Biomimcry design. If we do ever carry out a deep space mission to another planet or star system, the Trends in Society design would be woefully out of fashion by the time we got there. Plus, everyone knows that looking like some kind of terrifying deep-ocean-dwelling Leviathan is the key to making friends with our galactic neighbors.
Remember, you have until April 15 to cast your vote on which design should be made into a fully working prototype.
Source: http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/179157-nasa-shows-off-next-generation-z-2-spacesuits-makes-us-question-its-fashion-sense
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Founded by Russian entrepreneur Dmitry Itskov in February 2011 with the participation of leading Russian specialists in the field of neural interfaces, robotics, artificial organs and systems.
The main goals of the 2045 Initiative: the creation and realization of a new strategy for the development of humanity which meets global civilization challenges; the creation of optimale conditions promoting the spiritual enlightenment of humanity; and the realization of a new futuristic reality based on 5 principles: high spirituality, high culture, high ethics, high science and high technologies.
The main science mega-project of the 2045 Initiative aims to create technologies enabling the transfer of a individual’s personality to a more advanced non-biological carrier, and extending life, including to the point of immortality. We devote particular attention to enabling the fullest possible dialogue between the world’s major spiritual traditions, science and society.
A large-scale transformation of humanity, comparable to some of the major spiritual and sci-tech revolutions in history, will require a new strategy. We believe this to be necessary to overcome existing crises, which threaten our planetary habitat and the continued existence of humanity as a species. With the 2045 Initiative, we hope to realize a new strategy for humanity's development, and in so doing, create a more productive, fulfilling, and satisfying future.
The "2045" team is working towards creating an international research center where leading scientists will be engaged in research and development in the fields of anthropomorphic robotics, living systems modeling and brain and consciousness modeling with the goal of transferring one’s individual consciousness to an artificial carrier and achieving cybernetic immortality.
An annual congress "The Global Future 2045" is organized by the Initiative to give platform for discussing mankind's evolutionary strategy based on technologies of cybernetic immortality as well as the possible impact of such technologies on global society, politics and economies of the future.
Future prospects of "2045" Initiative for society
2015-2020
The emergence and widespread use of affordable android "avatars" controlled by a "brain-computer" interface. Coupled with related technologies “avatars’ will give people a number of new features: ability to work in dangerous environments, perform rescue operations, travel in extreme situations etc.
Avatar components will be used in medicine for the rehabilitation of fully or partially disabled patients giving them prosthetic limbs or recover lost senses.
2020-2025
Creation of an autonomous life-support system for the human brain linked to a robot, ‘avatar’, will save people whose body is completely worn out or irreversibly damaged. Any patient with an intact brain will be able to return to a fully functioning bodily life. Such technologies will greatly enlarge the possibility of hybrid bio-electronic devices, thus creating a new IT revolution and will make all kinds of superimpositions of electronic and biological systems possible.
2030-2035
Creation of a computer model of the brain and human consciousness with the subsequent development of means to transfer individual consciousness onto an artificial carrier. This development will profoundly change the world, it will not only give everyone the possibility of cybernetic immortality but will also create a friendly artificial intelligence, expand human capabilities and provide opportunities for ordinary people to restore or modify their own brain multiple times. The final result at this stage can be a real revolution in the understanding of human nature that will completely change the human and technical prospects for humanity.
2045
This is the time when substance-independent minds will receive new bodies with capacities far exceeding those of ordinary humans. A new era for humanity will arrive! Changes will occur in all spheres of human activity – energy generation, transportation, politics, medicine, psychology, sciences, and so on.
Today it is hard to imagine a future when bodies consisting of nanorobots will become affordable and capable of taking any form. It is also hard to imagine body holograms featuring controlled matter. One thing is clear however: humanity, for the first time in its history, will make a fully managed evolutionary transition and eventually become a new species. Moreover, prerequisites for a large-scale expansion into outer space will be created as well.
Key elements of the project in the future
• International social movement
• social network immortal.me
• charitable foundation "Global Future 2045" (Foundation 2045)
• scientific research centre "Immortality"
• business incubator
• University of "Immortality"
• annual award for contribution to the realization of the project of "Immortality”.
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