Coffee at the Cosmo September 16

Coffee at the Cosmo on Thursday, September 16, is entitled, “Like an Old Pair of Slippers: Comfortable In-Flight Clothing in Space.” It is at 9 a.m. at the Cosmosphere and is free and open to the public.

Astronauts have always had special clothing needs. The iconic spacesuit and helmet they used when walking on the moon would be cumbersome and impractical while travelling in space. From the early years of the space program, astronauts have had “in-flight” garments designed for comfort and ease of use.

They have ranged from a modified pair of long underwear used on an early mission, to the jumpsuits, shorts and t-shirts we’re accustomed to seeing on the International Space Station today. During this Coffee at the Cosmo we’ll look at the history of in-flight garments and talk about the challenges presented when trying to keep the astronauts safe and yet allow them to have full range of movement.

Coffee at the Cosmo is an ongoing series of free presentations at the Cosmosphere. It’s the third Thursday of every month at 9 a.m. and is always free. Enjoy coffee and pastries, meet new friends, and learn something new.

Upcoming Coffee Topics Include:
October 21, 2010 "Man on the Moon on the Move: Lunar Rovers"
November 18, 2010 "To Boldly Go Where No Product Has Gone Before: Brand Names in Space"
December 16, 2010 "Barbie Loves Buzz: Space Toys"

The Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing patrons' knowledge of space exploration. Educating people from around the globe, the Cosmosphere boasts the Hall of Space museum, one of the most significant collections of U.S. and Russian space artifacts in the world; the Justice Planetarium, a dome-shaped classroom where attendees learn about astronomy; Dr. Goddard's Lab, a live demonstration of early rocket technology; the Carey IMAX® Dome Theater, one of the first ones built in the world; and summer astronaut training camps. For more information visit cosmo.org.