Image: Cosmic equipment

ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer is suited, booted and prepared for his Cosmic Kiss mission. As a member of US Commercial Crew-3 he might be launched to the International Space Station in a Crew Dragon spacecraft in round one month’s time for his first six-month keep in orbit.

Matthias is pictured within the SpaceX spacesuit that he’ll put on alongside his crew mates, NASA astronauts Kayla Barron, Thomas Marshburn and Raja Chari, throughout their journey to and from space.

Each SpaceX spacesuit is tailored for its wearer. The helmet is 3D printed and its gloves are designed to work with the touchscreens on board. The go well with’s major objective is to guard astronauts from the unlikely occasion of depressurisation. However, it additionally helps regulate an astronaut’s physique temperature and offers listening to and fireplace safety.

When an astronaut enters the Dragon capsule, they plug the go well with into their seat utilizing an umbilical. This offers the electronics to energy communications, air to chill the go well with and gasoline to pressurize the garment when wanted.

This go well with is just worn within the Crew Dragon capsule, not throughout spacewalks. Matthias is skilled and authorized in each the US Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) and Russian Orlan spacesuits for any spacewalk he might carry out in orbit.

Matthias might be launched from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida no sooner than Sunday, 31 October.

During his six-month mission often known as “Cosmic Kiss,” Matthias will help quite a few European and worldwide experiments in microgravity. Knowledge gained on account of his mission will form the way forward for space exploration and assist improve life on Earth.

For extra about Matthias and the Cosmic Kiss mission go to the dedicated page or observe Matthias on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram for normal updates.