The European Space Agency (ESA), in collaboration with the Austrian Space Forum, has embarked on the PExTex (Planetary Exploration Textiles) project aimed at creating advanced spacesuits capable of enduring the challenging lunar environment. The project’s focus extends beyond safeguarding astronauts from external threats to preventing the proliferation of harmful microbes within the suits themselves.
As the lunar surface poses a range of hazards including vacuum conditions, extreme temperatures, radiation, and abrasive dust, factors that compromised the durability of Apollo-era spacesuits, the PExTex project, led by France’s Compagnie Maritime d’Expertises (COMEX), is investigating novel materials, such as high-strength Twaron, that were unavailable during the Apollo missions.
These materials are undergoing rigorous testing to ensure they can withstand a minimum of 2,500 hours of surface use. The German Institutes of Textile and Fiber Research (DITF) are subjecting the suits to various tests, including ultra-high vacuum exposure, electrical discharge, temperature fluctuations, and simulated moondust abrasion.
The ‘Biocidal Advanced Coating Technology for Reducing Microbial Activity’ (BACTeRMA) initiative is adopting an innovative approach by using secondary metabolites instead of conventional antimicrobial agents like silver or copper, which can cause skin irritation.
In collaboration with the Vienna Textile Lab, known for its distinctive collection of bacteria, the BACTeRMA team has developed techniques such as dyeing fabric with bacterial metabolites and subjecting them to radiation, moondust, and simulated human perspiration to assess durability.
The PExTex initiative signifies a substantial leap in spacesuit technology by combining state-of-the-art materials with biological science to guarantee the safety and comfort of future lunar explorers.
