I understand that spacesuits are expensive,but how do you “not have the right size” for astronauts?

This kind of sexism is unacceptable. I feel sorry for all the little girls watching this. They’re all learning that they will always be expected to give up their own dreams so a man can live them instead.

or are they custom made for each astronaut? If the latter, I don't see why NASA can't make another couple.

Modern space suits are made from interchangeable parts in different sizes that can be ‘slotted together’ through a series of seals to form a full space suit. When an astronaut needs a new suit they are measured, and the correct sized parts (torso, legs, arms etc) are assembled. The helmets are also standard issue since they do not fit closely to the head of the astronaut.

However there are some things that you can not generalize, and since astronauts conducting a space walk will often have complex tasks to perform, it is vital that they have good dexterity and freedom of movement in their hands. As a result, the gloves of a space suit are custom made for each astronaut.

Without looking, I think I recall the cost for each complete suite at $10 million.

... which, in astronaut-speak means, (a) it could be risky to try to get by in the wrong size suit, and (b) risky in space is stupid.

She called it, it's her ass out there in the vacuum. Respect her choice.

It's not that big afterall.

They launched with what they though they needed. However one of the Astronauts determined that she needs a different size and unfortunately there is only one medium, woman space suit currently in orbit.

Im sure NASA would be ok with building another suit.

But these are not "off the rack" space suits. (does an off-the-rack space suit even exist?) . It's a $10 million dollar engineered item and can't be built in 2 days.

Bear in mind that the Astronauts are ALREADY in space and one of them made the decision to wear a different suit (I fully support her, its her life on the line)

That's fine, you can't just build a $10,000,000.00 life supporting machine and launch it into space in 2 days after someone at the last second decided to use different suit.

although I doubt the manufacturer would build it if they could make a profit.

While I'm skeptical that you could spin up a team of space suit building engineers to build that suit for $10k.


Even if the engineers and team built it for free, that' still doesn't get it built and put into orbit in 2 days. That probably could not be done at 100 million, let alone $100k.