San Diego Space Society

June Meeting: Spacesuits 101 with Molly McCormick

Posted by Chris Radcliff in Calendar on May 10, 2010

2:30 pm to 4:30 pm

Location:
Serra Mesa Branch Library (map)
9005 Aero Dr, San Diego, CA

Join us for the June general meeting of the San Diego Space Society. This month’s topic is Spacesuits 101: an introduction to the physical environment of space, what happens to human biology in that environment, and how spacesuits help to protect from that environment. The talk will focus on theory and future design more than past design, including mechanical counterpressure suits and spacedive suits.

Molly McCormick began her newspace career while still a student when she joined Orbital Outfitters as a market/technology researcher. She went on to become the biomechanical engineer on the Orbital Outfitters team that successfully developed a soft spacesuit shoulder with greater mobility and comfort than preexisting designs for a NASA CRAVE contract. She continues to contract her services to Orbital Outfitters as both an engineer and as an author of proposals and technical literature. Ms. McCormick is a PADI certified open water diver and has conducted weightless experiments aboard NASA’s C-9 microgravity aircraft.

(Content warning: this talk will discuss the effects of vacuum or near-vacuum on humans, which might be scary for younger children. Please consider your child’s sensitivity before attending this presentation, and contact info@sdspace.org if you have any questions.)