VEST. Clothing Support System On-Orbit Validation

This paper presents the results of the VEST experiment scheduled during the Italian “Marco Polo” Soyuz Mission in April 2002 about which the author was Principal Investigator. VEST is a new integrated system of clothing to be used in the space flight environment. Aim of the experiment was to demonstrate that the provision of a new integrated system of garments to the crew would increase their well being, would allow to collect useful data with less impact on the crew schedule and to prove that in general with VEST equipment less mass and less volume are required for the clothing system. The VEST experiment is the final purpose of the feasibility study in 2001 in order to improve living and working conditions in space by designing innovative fabrics suitable for life inside the International Space Station (ISS) while keeping style a priority. Also, the new materials key characteristics are enable the clothes to guarantee transpiration, body thermal control and hygiene of the crewmember. The results of VEST experiment have allowed to obtain specific requirements for a new clothing system in microgravity and confined environments. Next experiment designed by the author named GOAL, Garments for Orbital Activities in weightLessness, planned for the Italian “Eneide” Soyuz Mission in April 2005, takes into consideration the first result of VEST developing new requirements and items to be comfortable and usable on board during space flight human missions.