Astronaut Mark C. Lee free floating in space with the SAFER system

SAFER

Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue (SAFER) is a small, self-contained, propulsive backpack system used to provide free-flying mobility for a Space Shuttle or International Space Station (ISS) crewmember during extra-vehicular activity (EVA). SAFER is a small, simplified version of the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) intended for contingency use only. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (3000x1995, 6735 KB) Backdropped against clouds 130 nautical miles below, astronaut Mark C. Lee floats freely without tethers as he tests the new Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue (SAFER) system during the STS-64 mission. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (3000x1995, 6735 KB) Backdropped against clouds 130 nautical miles below, astronaut Mark C. Lee floats freely without tethers as he tests the new Simplified Aid for EVA Rescue (SAFER) system during the STS-64 mission. ... Picture of Lee from NASA biography Colonel Mark C. Lee USAF, (born August 14, 1952) is a former NASA astronaut who flew as part as four space shuttle missions. ... Image File history File links SAFER_-_Simplified_Aid_for_EVA_Rescue_2. ... Image File history File links SAFER_-_Simplified_Aid_for_EVA_Rescue_2. ... NASAs Space Shuttle, officially called Space Transportation System (STS), is the United States governments current manned launch vehicle. ... ISS redirects here. ... Astronaut Bruce McCandless on an untethered EVA Extra-vehicular activity (EVA) is work done by an astronaut away from the Earth and outside of his or her spacecraft. ... U.S. astronaut Bruce McCandless uses a manned maneuvering unit A Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) is a rocket pack (propulsion backpack that snaps onto the back of the spacesuit) which has been used on spacewalks (EVAs) from NASAs space shuttle, allowing an astronaut to move independently from the shuttle. ...

SAFER is designed to be used as a self-rescue device for a separated EVA crewmember in situations when no vehicles can provide rescue capability. SAFER is worn by every crewmember using an Extravehicular Mobility Unit. SAFER was developed by the Robotics Division of NASA at the Johnson Space Center. SAFER was first flown on STS-64 where an untethered flight test was performed. SAFER weighs approximately 76 lb (34 kg) and can provide a total delta-v of at least 10 ft/s (3 m/s). NASA portrait of American Astronaut Thomas Akers, wearing a Shuttle EMU. The Space Shuttle/International Space Station Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) is an independent anthropomorphic system that provides environmental protection, mobility, life support, and communications for a Shuttle or ISS crew member to perform extra-vehicular activity (EVA) in earth... The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is an agency of the United States Government, responsible for that nations public space program. ... An aerial view of the complete Johnson Space Center facility in Houston, Texas in 1989. ... STS-64 is a Space Shuttle program mission. ... General In general physics delta-v is simply the change in velocity. ...

The left side latch on the SAFER unit became unlatched during an EVA by astronaut Piers Sellers on STS-121 while testing shuttle repair techniques. The latch had been inadvertently bumped and moved to the unlatch position. As a precaution, Mike Fossum tethered it to him and the spacewalk continued. In subsequent spacewalks, the latches were secured with Kapton tape, a space-rated form of adhesive tape, to prevent the latches from inadvertently opening. A hard cover is being designed for future missions. Piers John Sellers (born 11 April 1955) is a British born US astronaut and veteran of a single space shuttle mission. ... This article is becoming very long. ... Kapton is a polyimide film developed by DuPont which can remain stable in a wide range of temperatures, from -269°C to 400°C. Kapton is used in, among other things, flexible printed circuits and spacesuits. ... Two rolls of adhesive tape. ...

External links

• NASAExplores: A SAFER Way To Space Walk