Space Engineers Developing Suit for Space Diving

The RL MARK VI Space Diving Ensemble, along with the IVA 3G spacesuit from Final Frontier Design, is intended to provide an out-of this world experience for thrill seekers of tomorrow.

CREDIT: Final Frontier Design

A futuristic space-suit being developed will take the high altitude adventurer of tomorrow from the total vacuum of outer space, through the searing heat of atmospheric reentry, then down to the surface of the planet earth for a pinpoint landing that even Elon Musk would be envious of and one that Tony Stark, the “Iron Man” himself, would be totally familiar with.

Two fledgling start-ups, Juxtopia LLC and Solar System Express, both of Baltimore Maryland, are combining their respective talents to assemble The RL MARK VI Space Diving Ensemble — hardware that, until now, only a bona fide superhero could truly appreciate.

And, with this collaboration will come the ability for future space travelers — both in emergency situations and in recreational pursuits — to exit a spacecraft in low-earth orbit, reenter the earth’s atmosphere and return safely back to the ground.

Juxtopia’s augmented reality goggles will feed tomorrow’s space diver with a visual display of all the vital information he will need to successfully navigate his way back to the surface of the planet.



A pair of gyroscopic boots from Solar System Express will steady the jumper’s descent through the upper atmosphere until the air becomes thick enough for aerodynamic control.

The developers plan to test their system using traditional parachute jumps, witha production model of the RL MARK VI estimated for delivery in 2016.

Top Christmas Gifts for the Space Enthusiast

It's Christmas, and you want to find the perfect gift for your loved one who is interested in astronomy or space exploration. Here are our top five Christmas gift ideas that any space enthusiast will surely love.

1. Apollo 11 Space Suit Hi-Fi Replica
From Space Toys, you can get your loved one his own Apollo 11 NASA Space Suit. Made from heavy duty Nylon Cordura, quality is assured from the machining of aluminum hose fittings and neck ring to the anodizing of the aluminum fittings. Metal parts are also hand created while each suit is hand sewn. The helmet is also hand made from adding the gold to the visor to adding the cloth wrap cover. A real collector's item.

2. Project Mercury DVD
This six-set DVD offers a view of America's first manned space project. It is a stunning documentary of Mercury's flight to two sub-orbital and four orbital missions to build experience in the new frontier of space, including footages from the development, training of the original seven astronauts, development and primate flights, plus coverage of each mission including preparation, ingress, launch, onboards and recovery. Enjoy more than 24 hours of material on six DVDs from Countdown Creations.


3. Zhumell Tachyon 25x100 Astronomical Binocular with Tripod Package
Your space enthusiast will surely love this binocular and tripod set that offers a great astronomical viewing experience. The Zhumell Tachyon 25x100 Astronomical Binocular with Tripod Package includes Zhumell's Tachyon 25x100 astronomical binoculars and the Zhumell Heavy-Duty Tripod for an exciting bino-astronomy observation.

4. Beyond Earth
Book lovers will be smitten with this National Geographic publication. Co-published with the Smithsonian Institution, this one of a kind book details almost 5,000 years of stargazing, with great illustrations, from the Chinese and Aztecs to the Hubble Space Telescope.

5. Discovery Discovery Star Theater V3 Home Planetarium
Have your own planetarium at home for your loved one. Hundreds of twinkling stars and constellations projected onto your walls and ceiling will transform your room into a 360-degree planetarium. From Discovery, the Star Theatre V3 Home Planetarium is also educational as it provides astronomical facts, correctly positioned celestial bodies, and includes a built-in liquid-filled compass & glow light feature.

ESA Astro Samantha Cristoforetti: Trying on her new EMU Suit

ESA Italian Fighter Pilot and Astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti: Trying on her new 100 kg EMU Suit and the gadgets attached to the suit!

Japanese man takes Robo-suit ride up Mont-Saint-Michel

Seiji Uchida (up), 49, a Japanese man paralysed from the waist down, is carried by Tsukuba University student Ekuni using a Hybrid Assisted Limb (HAL) robo-suit on July 5 , 2011 as they climb the stairs of the Mont Saint-Michel, Normandy, north-western France.

The HAL suit, allowing the wearer to carry a heavy load, works by detecting faint bioelectrical signals using pads placed on specific areas of the body.

The pads move the HAL suit accordingly.

Image by: AFP PHOTO KENZO TRIBOUILLARD

Robotic Walking Aids: Tokyo

(Image: Yoshikazu Tsuno / AFP / Getty Images)
Employees from the Japanese robotics company Cyberdyne don the company's robot suit "HAL" (Hybrid Assistive Limb) for a walk on a Tokyo street, to celebrate the mass production version of the suit.

Tsukuba University professor Yoshiyuki Sankai and Cyberdyne developed the robot suit to work in unison with the wearer, anticipating the user's motions and adjusting accordingly.

The suit could help with rehabilitation, physical training, heavy labour, and rescue support at disaster sites.