Astronauts for a day -- sorta

A NASA specialist educated pupils about what it's like to live and work in space.
By DENISE DICK
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
BOARDMAN -- Wearing a spacesuit confirmed for Michael Rossi, 13, that he doesn't want to be an astronaut.
"It was hot and heavy," the St. Charles School sixth-grader said.
Michael tried on the snow-white suit, complete with helmet, Monday for a presentation for pupils by William Muscolo, a Youngstown native who works as a regulatory specialist in the environmental management office at NASA's John Glenn Research Center in Cleveland.
Muscolo educated pupils about what it's like to live and work in space.
The suit Michael wore, used by astronauts to work outside of the shuttle or other vehicles, weighs about 150 pounds when space-ready, but it was lightened up for the sixth-grader. The absence of gravity in space makes it feel more like 20 pounds when an astronaut straps it on.
The suits have seven layers of material, including layers of Kevlar -- the material used to make bullet-proof vests -- to protect astronauts from debris. The face shield on the helmet is made of the same stuff used to manufacture bullet-proof glass.
Although Michael's 5-foot-11-inch frame was a little restrained in the sample suit, Muscolo said each suit is custom-made to exactly fit the proportions of the person who will be wearing it.
Complications of no gravity
Despite the protections, life in space isn't without its challenges.
"Without gravity in space, nothing really works the way it does here," Muscolo said.
Beverages, for example, have to be contained in pouches that can be punctured to allow thirsty space men and women a chance to drink. Space food and drink has even influenced some mainstream products.
Muscolo mentioned juice pouches, energy bars and Pop Tarts.
Kayley Poschner, a seventh-grader, stepped into a bright blue sleeping bag used in space. Unlike those on terra firma, space sleeping bags aren't designed for warmth.
An astronaut slips one on and attaches himself to a specific spot in the space vehicle to keep from floating around.
"With no gravity, there's no pressure points," Muscolo said. "It's very comfortable to sleep in space."
Josh Suhey, a sixth-grader, tried on a flight suit, worn while working within a space vehicle. A plethora of pockets make it ideal for holding tools or snacks, the NASA specialist said.