KENNEDY SPACE CENTER (FL), December 12, 2024 – The latest issue of Upward, official magazine of the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory, highlights the AstroRad vest—a pioneering wearable technology designed to safeguard astronauts from harmful solar radiation during deep-space missions. Developed through a collaboration between StemRad and Lockheed Martin, the vest has undergone extensive testing through the ISS National Lab, leading to significant enhancements in its design and functionality.
NASA astronaut Kayla Barron, who evaluated the vest on the space station, describes it in Upward as “like a gravity blanket in space,” noting the balance it aims to strike between protection and mobility.
She emphasized the importance of wearable, customized solutions for astronauts, calling the vest “an elegant solution to a challenging engineering problem.”
The AstroRad vest employs high-density polymers to selectively shield vital organs most vulnerable to radiation exposure, addressing cancer and radiation sickness risks. Insights from the ISS National Lab-sponsored investigation enabled StemRad and partners to improve the vest’s ergonomics and functionality, advancing efforts toward safer deep-space exploration.
Oren Milstein, CEO at StemRad, highlighted the significance of leveraging the microgravity environment: “It allowed us to test the vest in a real space environment and laid the groundwork for other collaborations and tests, where we could take the concept even further.”
The vest’s development involved extensive collaboration, with engineer Kat Coderre, deputy manager for deep space exploration advanced programs at Lockheed Martin, referring to the process as a “vest saga.” By utilizing the ISS National Lab, the team obtained invaluable feedback for refining the design for long-duration wear during solar particle events.
The vest was also tested during the Artemis I mission, furthering its role in advancing human space exploration. AstroRad represents a critical advancement in astronaut safety, paving the way for deeper space exploration.
To learn more about AstroRad’s development and testing onboard the space station, read the Upward feature “Armor for Astronauts.”
About the International Space Station (ISS) National Laboratory:
The International Space Station (ISS) is a one-of-a-kind laboratory that enables research and technology development not possible on Earth. As a public service enterprise, the ISS National Laboratory® allows researchers to leverage this multiuser facility to improve quality of life on Earth, mature space-based business models, advance science literacy in the future workforce, and expand a sustainable and scalable market in low Earth orbit. Through this orbiting national laboratory, research resources on the ISS are available to support non-NASA science, technology, and education initiatives from U.S. government agencies, academic institutions, and the private sector. The Center for the Advancement of Science in Space™ (CASIS®) manages the ISS National Lab, under Cooperative Agreement with NASA, facilitating access to its permanent microgravity research environment, a powerful vantage point in low Earth orbit, and the extreme and varied conditions of space. To learn more about the ISS National Lab, visit our website.
