Make: Volume 86

science behind designing a spacesuit, especially

for a lot of the life support equipment, when we

make what we call the pressure garment, there’s

no textbook. There’s no scientific formula that’s

going to tell you exactly how to design that to fit

all these different people.”

Spacesuits are a cross between a personal

spacecraft and clothing, making sewing an

essential piece of the manufacturing puzzle as

well. But the sewing skills required for this type of

creation are unique.

“Spacesuit stitching and manufacturing is

more precise than anything else out there,”

Ralston said. “We’ve yet to find another industry

that holds the tolerances that ...