We are Team Spacesuit Prototype to Augment Capability on EVAs
...And we are a team of undergraduate researchers at the University of Maryland committed to improving spacesuit joint design, making spacewalks easier and more productive. Founded in 2016 under the auspices of the Gemstone Honors Program, our research focuses on using additive manufacturing to improve spacesuit design. We believe that making spacesuit components using additive manufacturing can both improve the performance of spacesuits and cut down on the supplies astronauts need to bring with them, making human exploration of Mars more feasible.
Research Question: Can rigid spacesuit joints--coupled with additive manufacturing, robotic/exoskeletal assistance, and other technologies--reduce the physical demands made on astronauts during spacewalks?