image: The AstroRad vest in the Cupola module onboard the space station
Credit: NASA
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER (FL), December 11, 2024 – The latest issue of Upward, official magazine of the International Space Station (ISSInternational Space Station) National Laboratory, highlights the AstroRad vest—a pioneering wearable technology designed to safeguard astronauts from harmful solar radiation during deep-space missions. Developed through a collaboration between StemRad and Lockheed Martin, the vest has undergone extensive testing through the ISS National Lab, leading to significant enhancements in its design and functionality.
NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration astronaut Kayla Barron, who evaluated the vest on the space station, describes it in Upward as “like a gravity blanket in space,” noting the balance it aims to strike between protection and mobility. She emphasized the importance of wearable, customized solutions for astronauts, calling the vest “an elegant solution to a challenging engineering problem.”
The AstroRad vest employs high-density polymers to selectively shield vital organs most vulnerable to radiation exposure, addressing cancer and radiation sickness risks. Insights from the ISS National Lab-sponsored investigation enabled StemRad and partners to improve the vest’s ergonomics and functionality, advancing efforts toward safer deep-space exploration.
Oren Milstein, CEO at StemRad, highlighted the significance of leveraging the microgravityThe condition of perceived weightlessness created when an object is in free fall, for example when an object is in orbital motion. Microgravity alters many observable phenomena within the physical and life sciences, allowing scientists to study things in ways not possible on Earth. The International Space Station provides access to a persistent microgravity environment. environment: “It allowed us to test the vest in a real space environment and laid the groundwork for other collaborations and tests, where we could take the concept even further.”
The vest’s development involved extensive collaboration, with engineer Kat Coderre, deputy manager for deep space exploration advanced programs at Lockheed Martin, referring to the process as a “vest saga.” By utilizing the ISS National Lab, the team obtained invaluable feedback for refining the design for long-duration wear during solar particle events.
The vest was also tested during the Artemis I mission, furthering its role in advancing human space exploration. AstroRad represents a critical advancement in astronaut safety, paving the way for deeper space exploration.
To learn more about AstroRad’s development and testing onboard the space station, read the Upward feature “Armor for Astronauts.”
Download a high-resolution image: The AstroRad Vest