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During extravehicular activity (EVA) space suit (SS) gloves considerably influences cosmonaut/astronaut productivity. Some generations of EVA SS were developed at «RD&PE ZVEZDA» JSC (Russia). Various types of EVA glove were used for each SS. The paper presents EVA glove evolution: Leonov's glove, Lunar glove, SALUT and MIR gloves. The development of advanced EVA glove with improved mobility and protection is a key item to meet needs of future space missions: International Space Station, Lunar Base and Martian Expedition etc. The further evolution of EVA glove design be considered in conclusion.

To support the extravehicular activity (EVA) from the MIR orbiting station, the ORLAN-DMA space suit of a semi-rigid type is currently used. As the tasks to be accomplished within the MIR-SHUTTLE and ISSA programs become more complicated, Zvezda has to improve its EVA suit substantially. In comparison with the existing EVA suit, the ORLAN-M, a modified configuration of the EVA suit, offers increased EVA efficiency, simplified onboard EVA support subsystem used in the airlock mode and removal of drawbacks identified in the course of the multiyear operations of Russian EVA suits. The new suit will be interchangeable with the suit used for the MIR program. The paper reviews results of the Design and Development activities, presents brief descriptions of modified system components and schematics, and describes preliminary results of the suit model tests.

The operating pressure value is one of the principal considerations for trade-off analysis of the space suit enclosure and the individual life support subsystem (LSS). From the physiological point of view, the same level of pressure in the suit and space vehicle reflects the best solution. Current Russian space vehicles and orbiting stations use the “Earth atmosphere”. A suit operating pressure at such a level would result in complicated and technically unreasonable designs. Improved mobility of the pressurized suit and enhanced performance characteristics of the LSS can be offered with the minimized positive pressure. However, the minimized suit pressure concept leads to the increased risk of crewmember decompression sickness. Therefore, the suit operating pressure selection calls for a trade-off of physiological tolerances of the crewmember versus technical feasibility of this or that solution as principal considerations.