NASA Unveils Buzz Lightyear Inspired Spacesuit

Pixar and NASA have teamed up to create the next generation of spacesuits. Well, not exactly. But NASA’s Z-1 prototype definitely looks like it stole a few ideas from the classic Toy Story character.

The Z-1 Prototype Spacesuit and Portable Life Support System 2.0, otherwise known as NASA’s Buzz Lightyear suit, was recently named one of Time Magazine’s inventions of the year. The suit was designed to withstand all sorts of weather conditions in order to allow astronauts to fly into deep space.

NASA spacesuit engineer Amy Ross told UberGizmo:

“It’s like you’re trying to go on vacation, but you don’t know if you’re going to Antarctica, Miami, or Buckingham Palace,” “We’re building a lot of tools for the toolbox. Right now we’re asked to be very flexible.”

The Huffington Post reports that NASA’s spacesuits haven’t been upgraded since 1992. But now that the space agency is extending its reach into space and mulling around the idea of sending humans to two infinity and beyond again, they decided that it was probably a good idea to make an upgrade.

Time Magazine writes:

“The Z-1 space suit provides go-anywhere garb featuring more-flexible joints, radiation protection for long stays in space and a hatch on the back that allows the suit to dock with a portal on a spacecraft or rover so an astronaut can crawl through without letting dust in or air out.”

The Z-1 prototype hasn’t been used in space yet. I’m guessing that NASA is still trying to work out contact issues with Pixar.

Here’s a look at NASA’s new prototype spacesuit. Do you think they should cut Pixar a check?