http://jscfeatures.jsc.nasa.gov/z2/ NASA is exploring three differently-named options (that purport to be three completely different options, even if they all look a bit ridiculous) for Martian space suits, and are allowing a vote by the public on them. The options (for discussion, even if you can't be arsed to look at the poll): "Biomimicry" "Technology" "Trends in Society". Sadly not a contender is the "Buzz Lightyear".
The 60s promised me cool. That's a spacesuit for my space station. And in purple, I'm stunning. http://www.cultretro.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/Gabrielle_Drake_eliis_shado.jpg
Yeesh. They're all hideous, and I agree that the "Buzz Lightyear" looks better than all of them. (And they could've used a better 3D model for the person, if only to reduce the creepiness factor.) I voted, and the results currently look like this: Technology 65% Biomimicry 21.6% Trends in Society 13.4% However, this is isn't even going into space, nor will the final product even look the same. From the FAQ: All that said, did anyone else notice a rather familiar uniform in the background of this pic?
I actually favour Trends in Society. It's ugly as the rest (at least in the mockups), but the entire arms and legs are lighted up, so you can actually see what the posture of the other person is in even in complete darkness. So if it is going to be ugly, let's pick the more functional. Technology looks nicer though. These aren't going to be actually used, right?
My earnest hope is no. I'm thinking these are rough starts to establish some general direction, later resulting in suits that don't look quite so R2-D2ish.
What if we picked say "technology" and we meet aliens and the Y symbol on the front of the suit is actually the aliens' symbol for "F U"? Talk about a bad first contact! LOL
It would be trivial to have a conventional looking helmet that opens along the midsection (from ear-to-ear), with the front half and back half of the helmet permanently affixed to the front half and back half of the upper torso, so that entry is similar to the hunch back suit but the assembled look is more like an Apollo suit.
For what it's worth I did, but as opposed to what mere striplings are probably best advised to do here, I think I just like to see/hear myself talk too much. Sorry!!!