Expensive Space Suits

A spacesuit is so expensive because it is very complex and has many features that humans need to survive in space. This includes actually being able to survive in the vacuum of space, radiation from the sun, and protection against fast-traveling molecules as fast as 18,000 miles/hour that could damage the suit. With spacesuits having all of these expensive features, there were only a few made when the US had space missions in the late 20th century. Throughout these past years, the suits have been destroyed or severely damaged in space missions, leaving only 4 “flight-ready” suits for future space missions. With each suit averaging about $150 million to make, it is no wonder that it has been a challenge for NASA to make more space suits as needed. In fact, one space mission had to be postponed because the available space suits did not even fit the person who needed it! Although this was eventually solved by adding a space holder to fit the torso in the suit, it still is a big obstacle for a high number of astronauts to be sent on a mission to space with diminishing spacesuits. I believe these spacesuits can be made cheaper by using more advanced technology. These astronauts are using the same suits that were initially made in the 70’s. With new technology, there are new inventions that far outdate ones present in NASA’s current space suits. NASA has not prioritized making new suits because of how costly these old ones are. With new technology becoming available, in the coming years there are surely going to be more space suits to come into circulation with NASA.