SCAPE Suits
Cryogenic Supply System May Improve Mine Rescue Operations The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), BSC Life Support, LLC, and NASA’s Biomedical Lab are partnering under a Space Act Agreement for the development of cryogenic life support systems that can be used in mine rescue. The device, called a Cryogenic Refuge Alternative Supply […] The post SCAPE Suits appeared…
SCAPE Suits project aims to enhance mine rescue operations by developing advanced cryogenic life support systems. The Cryogenic Refuge Alternative Supply System (CryoRASS) and Cryo BA backpack have the potential to store double the amount of breathable air compared to conventional compressed gas systems. NIOSH is funding the project, hoping to revolutionize how coal miners escape disasters.
CryoRASS works by circulating vaporized air within a closed environment, while Cryo BA uses ambient heat to vaporize liquid air and distribute it via a Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) mask. NASA's cryogenic life support technology has been utilized in worker protection suits, astronaut cooling, and crew rescue SCBA since the Mercury program.
The CryoRASS could "easily exceed the minimum requirements," providing more time for rescuers, according to KSC lead engineer David Bush. The team is also constructing liquid air storage and refill stations spaced 90 minutes apart, enabling miners to escape disasters with CryoBA backpacks. The project is gaining attention from NASA's newest human spaceflight programs, and BCS Life Support will lead commercialization efforts, targeting the mining and aerospace industries.
Written by urgent.news from NASA Science's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
