Mark III (space suit)

For a vehicle with a one atmosphere, mixed-gas environment, such as that on the International Space Station, the suit could be donned and ready for an EVA within the normal donning and checkout period without risk of the bends, which can occur with rapid depressurization from an atmosphere containing nitrogen or another inert gas.

Currently, ISS astronauts must spend several hours in a reduced pressure, pure oxygen environment before EVA to avoid these risks.

[2] Subjects wearing the Mark III were able to kneel to pick up objects, a task which would be difficult in either the Apollo A7L or Shuttle EMU suit.

Dean Eppler, a geologist at NASA's Johnson Space Center who wore the suit during testing, commented that "the Mark III in many cases has almost shirtsleeve-equivalent mobility.

[2] As a result of the success of zero- and partial-gravity testing on the KC-135 Vomit Comet and in 1g field tests in Arizona and at Johnson Space Center, the EVA Project Office at Johnson Space Center is currently looking toward a soft suit design for future astronauts that incorporates the enhanced mobility features of the Mark III, but with a lower weight penalty.