Single-Person Spacecraft Favored for Gateway EVA

Abstract

It is assumed that astronauts need space suits to go outside. However, the Single-Person Spacecraft (SPS) allows extravehicular activity (EVA) not only without suits, but without an airlock. NASA is planning on building a Lunar Orbital Platform-Gateway and most concepts include suited astronauts with an airlock. Is traditional suited EVA the only solution or is the SPS a credible alternative? To answer this question, an engineering tradeoff analysis was conducted comparing the two options. Findings reveal that the SPS is favored because it is safer, more efficient, weighs less, and significantly reduces the cost to the government. Furthermore, it requires fewer launches, has less of an impact on elements, and fulfills NASA’s stated objectives for the Gateway