Teijin Aramid’s Twaron® is being used by the International Lunar Exploration Working Group (ILEWG) to develop a prototype spacesuit layer with a damage-detection system.
The space industry must deal with the dangers inherent from debris in space damaging spacesuits. Not only do astronauts need to be protected from damage to the spacesuits, but they also need to be alerted to the damage before the air is released or the wearer is injured.
The International Lunar Exploration Working Group (ILEWG), a collaboration between several space agencies worldwide including NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the French Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales (CNES), is working with several partners to design a lighter, more comfortable spacesuit that is not only damage-resistant but will also alert the wearer that damage has occurred.
“This collaborative, innovative project aligns perfectly with Teijin Aramid’s values,” said Remko Pol, global market manager aerospace for Teijin. “So, when the ILEWG contacted us in February 2020 to see whether Twaron®’s ballistic and conductive properties could help them in their mission, we were on board straight away!”
