NASA researchers collaborating with NASA contractor personnel have developed an audio system specifically designed for space suit applications. The audio system developed includes array microphones and speakers that are fix-mounted in the space suit, a digital signal processor (DSP), and other associated signal-processing components. This audio system has been designed to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of existing noisy suit subject audio leaving the suit by 23dB to enable human-robotic verbal interaction. The audio system was validated in a laboratory environment (TRL-4) using both a pressurized ILC Dover, Inc., “I” suit and Hamilton Sundstrand Mark-III suit at Johnson Space Center (JSC) in June 2003. The audio system was validated in an outdoor relevant environment (TRL-5) using a pressurized Hamilton Sundstrand Mark-III suit at Johnson Space Center (JSC) in February 2004. The technology is also being tested to eliminate the Communications Carrier Assembly (CCA) or “Snoopy cap” worn by astronauts during extra-vehicular activity (EVA).

The following describes the details required to bond Molybdenum interconnect to thermoelectric legs, particularly for use at high temperatures (>700C).

A continuing development of a navigation system is discussed that would enable a spacecraft to approach Mars on a trajectory to enable the spacecraft to land within 1 km of the specified location.