An engineering company is developing an automated system to help get spacewalking astronauts to safety. Spacewalking astronauts at the International Space Station currently wear a Simplified Aid For EVA Rescue (SAFER) jet backpack that must be manually controlled:
Getting stranded during a spacewalk is a terrifying scenario for any astronaut to imagine — but what if space station crew members could simply press a button during such an event and be immediately transported back to safety?
That's the idea behind new technology in development dubbed the "Take Me Home" button. It's a complex system of hardware and software that could be incorporated into a space suit and can automatically guide an astronaut home during an emergency in space. The concept is currently being developed with partial NASA funding at Draper, an engineering company with a long history of creating technologies for crewed spaceflight.
(Score: 4, Funny) by Gaaark on Friday December 08 2017, @01:35AM
So, an autonomous rescue pack?
What does it do if a kid runs out in front of it? Or an old lady falls in front of it and can't get back up?
Does it just kill the kid or old lady, or does it veer off, thus maybe sacrificing the astronaut?
Guess the astronaut will always have to be ready to take control and won't be able to eat chips and watch Farscape. Frell....I wouldn't want to be an astronaut if I can't eat chips and watch Farscape.
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---