Space clothing

• Underwear
• Coveralls
• Accessories
• Other
• Links
• Photo gallery

Over the decades of long-duration flight in the Russian space program, various specialized items of clothing and hygiene have been developed to ensure the comfort of those living on board a space station.

Inflight clothing has been developed by the Kentavr-Science, Ltd. company, in consultation with the Institute of Medical and Biological Problems. There are 21 items of clothing to choose from, including underwear, socks and lingerie (for women). Color is considered an important psychological factor for long missions; they should be appealing and harmonious with the Station’s interior color scheme. Cosmonauts can choose any color combination that appeals to them.

Quality control is strict. The clothing is cleaned, inspected and x-rayed for any stray pins or needles, sterilized with an electronic beam, packed in a hermetically-sealed bag and numbered. The clothing is tear-resistant and no buttons are used in case these should come loose and be accidentally swallowed in zero-g (zippers, Velcro and snaps are used instead).

Underwear

Set of undergarments:

• shirt
• underpants
• 2 pairs of socks (in a plastic bag with the size indication)

Change underwear once every 7 days; change socks every 3 days. 30 pairs of socks and 60 sets of underwear are provided for a 6-month flight per crewperson.

Kamelia-SM, «Камелиа-СМ» Set – worn as underwear and during physical training:

• sweatshirt with short sleeves and round collar: 1 ea.
• shorts: 1 ea.
• socks: 1 pair
• plastic bag: 1 ea.

Change Kamelia-SM set once every 3 days. Wear for three days, then put aside to wear for one more day only during physical exercises.

Kamelia-A is light underwear; Kamelia-SM is warmer long underwear for cooler conditions. It can be worn by men and women. The material is a special elastic cotton.

The socks are specially padded to prevent crewmembers from developing flat feet in weightlessness, and are reinforced for treadmill workouts.

Disposable underwear set – for everyday wear:

• disposable underwear (one-size-fits-all briefs, individual): 4 pairs
• plastic multipocket: 4 ea.
• plastic bag for disposable underwear: 1 ea.

Wear one set for four days.

Confection set – for everyday wear:

• briefs
• sports bra or tanktop (individual)
• plastic bag for each confection set
• bigger plastic bag for confection sets stowage

Confection sets come in individual sizes. Wear one set for three days.

Casual wear set – intended to provide for crew body temperature comfort during their stay in the ISS with ambient air temperature range of 20-30°С and is used for everyday wear:

• polo shirt with zipper made from dense cotton stockinet;
• shorts with zippered pockets;
• Each plastic bag is labeled.

The 6 T-shirts per package are different colors so a wearer can choose a color that suits his mood.

Costs (U.S. dollars): Camelia underwear is $45 to $50 apiece; a light suit is $90 to $95; socks are $3 per pair.

For ladies only!

Women have some nice lingerie to choose from: bras, T-shirts and bikini-type underpants, edged with lace, and made of cotton. A weekly set of underwear is provided; disposable underpants are changed each day. “The goal of this support is to make women on board feel like women, not just astronauts or cosmonauts.”

Cost: each lingerie set is $45 to $50 apiece.

Coveralls

Change coveralls

Change coveralls maintain crewmember’s comfortable body temperature under ISS ambient air temperatures in the range 20-30°С.

Coveralls have several types of pockets to hold documents, memos, photos, pencils, ballpoint pens, knife, etc.

Coveralls have lateral seams in thigh area with zippers. Upper part of coveralls’ backside with waist belt and lateral zippers forms a turndown flap (see Figure 3.2, p. 3-4 and Figure 3.3, p.3-5), allowing a wearer to use the toilet without doffing coveralls.

The coveralls are made of cotton and lavsan.

Cost: $350 per garment.

• Change coveralls diagram (40 KB).

Warm coveralls

Warm coveralls maintain a crewmember’s comfortable body temperature under ISS ambient air temperatures in the range 15-20°С. Comfortable temperatures are characterized by preservation of relatively high work capability. The fabric is a fine U.S. synthetic.

Features:

• The trouser legs of the coveralls are cuffed;
• Coveralls have upper and lower patch pockets on the left and right;
• Rounded collar has a Velcro strap fastener.
• Cost: $350 per garment.

Operator’s coveralls

Operator’s coveralls maintain crewmember’s comfortable body temperature under ISS ambient air temperatures in the range 20-30°С. Comfortable temperatures are characterized by preservation of relatively high work capability.

• There are patch pockets on trousers front and back thighs;
• shin pocket is located on the left trouser leg shin level;
• there are patch pockets on trousers seat (buttocks level).
• Cost: $350 per garment.
• Operator’s coveralls diagram (12 KB).

Accessories

Tool belt

The tool belt is worn by a crewmember when performing any maintenance or installation/deinstallation activities. Composition:

• tool belt: 1 ea.
• pockets and fixers from 6 to 10 (depending on configuration): 1 ea.
• Bag: 1 ea.

Depending on the type of activity, crewmember may use various configurations of tool belt, as well as its separate parts and components. The tool belt comes in one size and can be adjusted at the waist using provided Velcro clip. Tool belt is made from Velcro pile to which different types of multi-pockets are attached using a Velcro hook. The specific design of each multi-pocket or fixer is determined by its purpose (for screwdrivers, pencils, wrenches, etc.)

“Sprut” securing harness

“Sprut” securing harness is used to secure crewmember in working area during performance of various tasks.

Composition:

• belt 1 ea.
• short strap 1 ea.
• long strap 2 ea.
• stowage bag

Harness set consists of belt, short and long straps, and stowage bag. The elastic components have the following letter codes:

• Д – on the long strap
• К – on the short strap

Straps are made in the shape of special-design belts (see Figure 3.7, p. 3-10), consisting of tensile and non-tensile elements, and a waist belt. One of the non-tensile elements has a metal clasp with moving lock. For straps attachment, working area shall be equipped with snap hooks. A snap hook is attached to loop on the end of strap non-tensile element. Stowage bag, containing the Sprut securing harness, is made in the shape of polycaprolactam cover with Velcro fastener. Each component and separate ticket is labeled.

Mounter’s set

Mounter’s set is used by crewmember when performing any maintenance or installation/deinstallation activities. Depending on type of required work, crewmember may use Mounter’s set in its various configurations, as well as its separate components.

Composition:

• apron: 1 ea.
• thigh multipocket (right, left): 1 pair
• arm multipocket: 1 ea.
• elbow sleeve: 1 ea.
• gloves: 1 pair
• wrist cuff: 1 ea.
• bag: 1 ea.

Front part of apron has pockets, metal D-rings, detail straps, attachment loops. Mounter’s set includes right (with two pouches) and left thigh multipockets whose special design allows them to be attached onto crewmember’s thighs. Mounter’s set includes arm multipocket attached to elastic cuff to be worn on a crewmember’s left arm. Multipocket is used for temporary stowage of various small items and tools required during in-flight maintenance (IFM) activities.

The elbow sleeve made from elastic stockinet protects crewmember’s working arm from possible skin abrasions or lesions when performing IFM activities in narrow spaces. Elbow sleeve together with wrist cuff provide for hand and arm protection from any neuromuscular strains possible during IFM work. Elbow sleeve should be worn on working arm providing comfortable compression sensation; after donning elbow sleeve, wrist cuff is put on and adjusted to provide similar sensation in wrist area.

All Mounter’s set parts are individually labeled.

Other

Sports footwear

Sports footwear (one pair) is used during physical training. Their containing plastic bag is labeled.

Soyuz

There are also garments worn during the Soyuz flight to the ISS, after the Sokol rescue suits are doffed. These consist of unisex change coveralls, a warm jacket and long-sleeved t-shirts. Note the zipper at the crotch of the coveralls, which is to facilitate using the toilet without removing one’s clothing!

Links

• Kentavr-Science
• Novosti Kosmonavtiki: “Cosmonauts’ wardrobe”, №1, 2003
• Space.com: “Space Garments: What To Wear In Flight”, 10 July 2000
• Spaceref.com: Service Module Medical Operations, Book 1. Download this (an 8.8 MB PDF file) from the Space Station User’s Guide: Routine and Emergency Medical Operations. Included are descriptions of the various items of clothing and zero-g countermeasures equipment.

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