WEDNESDAY February 15, 1995 ~ Astronauts test local Newtsuits for space travel CANADIAN ASTRONAUT — Dr. Dafydd (Dave) Williams of Montreal is visiting North Vancouver-based Hard Suits Inc. (HSI) in search of high-tech sulutions for space flight problems faced by Canadian and American space programs. By Ann Hamilton Contributing Writer Williams, 40,.a member of the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), is completing a month- long Newtsuit training course. The program will provide him with othe — insight needed to determine whether: the Newtsuit technology developed by local inventor and diving specialist. Phil Nuytten | can be applied to the sci- ence of outer-space flight. Said Nuytten, an underwater explorer, Order of British Columbia recipient, im = and HSI chairman, THE ASTRO Newtsuit “One would expect was designed an the that the outer space. North Shore. and inner space — : the bottom of the oceiin and the surface of the moons or planets — ure by definition, as far out at wach end of the spectrum as they can get. But in fact that’s not true. There is a tremendous amount of overlap in technology. “We are using the technology to protect us ‘from working outside af our (man’s) design specifications.” HSU's Newtsuit is a monobaric (one-atmos- pheric) diving hard suit. It allows divers to - Operate to a depth of 300 m (1.000 ft.) without having to decompress when surfacing. The suit achieves this by maintaining 14.7 p.s.i. (pounds per square inch), which is gener- ally the atmospheric pressure people function at in ther basic living environment. The CSA and U.S.-based NASA are inter- ested in using similar technology to eliminate decompression sickness connected with space travel. Also of interest are the suit’s task-perfor- mance capabilites. Williams was selected from among, 5.300. applicants to fA one of four astronaut positions with the CSA in 1992, He was recently chosen 1o join the Johnson Space Centre, located in Houston, Texas, in March to train as a nussions specialist. Opportunities to Ay aboard the space shut- de. to operate the Canadian-made Canadarin, to be involved ar the vet-te-be-buill space stavan, “and ta walk in Space are vapected. “Iodis a dream come cruel Wilhams told if NEWS ghoto Terry Peters. CANADIAN ASTRONAUT Dave Williams (right) and monobaric suit inventor Phil Nuytten (left) discuss the similarities between inner and outer space travel as Williams prepares for a simulated space walk test using the locally made Newtsuit. the News. For the past ES montis, Williams. a former emergency physician, has been conducting space medicine research. He is working lo implement an operational space medicine pro- gram within the space agency. Said Williams. “One of the problems we have with EWA Cextra vehicular activity, or space walks iis chat cur suits are not pressurized towne atmospheres. P47 pat. The 43 past Cor “space suity is a dower pressure, so there is a cisk of desoutpression sickness.” Vhere ts much interest in developing mono- baric space satits, but research is yet to present @ perfect prototype capable of EVA, fh osearch of a solution. the asronant was instrumental in bringing the CSA and Nuyuen’s company together. Nuytten embraced the idea, He is no stradger to the concept of upping underwater technology to space. He mile several presenta: fians to NASA [0 years ago. “Our guys are trained ta work wc the end of an unbiliculh ina weightless mode. ina hestile See lrehnalory pace 4 pene! Re ihe tins Weather Thursday: periods of rain, High 8°C, low 3°C. B® Classifieds... $<) @ Crossword............... season OO B Entertainment..................77 W Travel. FTV LISTINGS. eee RZ 8 “You-Brew" industry keeps on growing: 17 Stress patrols with the RCMP: 18 8 Celebrating 8.C. apple month: uA taste of the North Shore: s Odyssey reflects what mini-van buyers want tn a vehicle.