Smart textiles: the future of space suits

Space suit technology developed in the 1980s has become outdated, with bulky, stiff designs using harmful flame-retardant materials and cumbersome power sources that pose fire hazards. A team from AGH University of Krakow, Poland is revolutionising this with ESA Discovery funding, by developing Starweave - a lightweight, flame-resistant smart textile with integrated power generation and sensing capabilities.

The project exploits triboelectric and piezoelectric hybrid materials capable of harvesting electricity from human movement. Combining specially processed polymers with innate flame resistance with carbon-based nanomaterials like carbon black, carbon nanotubes, and graphene, the team is creating textiles that generate power whilst providing sensing capabilities and flame protection.

Find out more here.