Feasibility of Emergency IVA Spacesuit Bladder Repair During Parabolic Microgravity Flight

Abstract

Emergency pressure garment damage during crewed spaceflight presents a significant operational risk, particularly within confined intra-vehicular activity (IVA) environments where rapid contingency response may be required before suit exchange or vehicle safe-haven procedures (NASA, 2015). This study evaluated the feasibility of temporary emergency IVA spacesuit bladder repair techniques during parabolic microgravity flight using a low-cost analog test platform designed to approximate key aspects of flexible pressure-retention behavior. Due to the limited accessibility, operational complexity, and cost associated with flight-certified pressure garments, a full IVA spacesuit assembly was not utilized during this experimental campaign. Instead, a modified sphygmomanometer (blood pressure cuff) bladder assembly was adapted as a flexible pressure-retention analog to support a feasibility assessment of adhesive repair techniques rather than replicate the full material performance of operational IVA pressure garments. Pre-punctured test regions were repaired during repeated microgravity parabolas using modified star-shaped adhesive patches and duct-tape-style linear repair materials. To improve operability under microgravity conditions, star-shaped repair patches were modified pre-flight with integrated backing lips to facilitate rapid peeling and deployment during reduced-gravity operations. Star-shaped patches achieved complete pressure retention in two of three trials while successfully containing pressure in all three trials. In contrast, duct-tape-style repairs achieved complete pressure retention in one of three trials despite successful pressure containment in all primary trials. Adhesive interaction, material conformity, and operator handling influenced seal performance across repeated repair attempts. These findings suggest that adhesive geometry, material interaction, and microgravity-specific human factors influence emergency repair effectiveness in flexible pressure-retention systems. The results further demonstrate the utility of low-cost analog platforms for feasibility studies supporting human spaceflight contingency research. Based on the author's review of publicly available literature, this investigation represents the first known microgravity evaluation of star-shaped adhesive patch repair of an IVA spacesuit bladder analog during parabolic flight.