Space Expert Breaks Down Spacesuits in 'Star Trek,' 'The Martian' and More | GQ

Dr. Cathleen Lewis, curator of International Space Programs and Spacesuits at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum, breaks down space suits from movies including 'Star Trek,' 'Gravity,' 'Alien,' 'Prometheus,' 'The Martian,' 'Moonraker,' 'Destination Moon,' 'Stargate: Atlantis,' 'Armageddon,' '2001: A Space Odyssey,' 'Outland,' 'Moon' and 'Sunshine.'
00:00 Intro
00:29 'Star Trek'
03:08 'Gravity'
06:22 'Alien'
08:58 'Prometheus'
10:46 'The Martian'
14:19 'Moonraker'
16:41 'Destination Moon'
21:03 'Stargate: Atlantis'
23:58 'Armageddon'
27:47 '2001: A Space Odyssey'
31:22 'Outland'
33:30 'Moon'
34:39 'Sunshine'
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[@EGSA71]

I really enjoyed how Dr Lewis took into account the year the movies were made and highlighted the efforts people put into spacesuit design!

[@Commenter1270]

Solaris too.

[@thejokkerulez2446]

Listening to her, I feel like I am back in kindergarten being told the most amazing story by the teacher.

[@pho3nix-]

Haha yes, unfortunately I never had cool teachers like her

[@DarthEyesDragon]

Why is this comment so accurate!?

[@Moose92411]

Her voice is remarkably soothing!

[@monosaturated]

Her pattern of speech; the way she expounds upon things, is so professorial that I really did learn quite a bit and it was easily digestible in a manner that was quite impressive. She's a natural teacher, and an amazing expert.

[@DrWhom]

really?

[@ufc990]

@@DrWhom People hand out compliments like skittles here; bunch of mouth breathers

[@mattyt1961]

One thing I love about her is she openly takes the need for character and making something cinematic into account rather than just call BS

[@Fastwinstondoom]

Needs a second video, with Interstellar and The Expanse and Battlestar Galactica to mention a few!

[@pierrebeastlovesyou]

Exactly. Bobby's marine suit for sure.

[@jijakyu]

Ad astra and star trek first contact

[@tint1122]

Yes! The Expanse would be awesome!

[@JinKee]

@@tint1122 agreed- i notice that Free Navy vac suits are comfortable enough to wear at all times. Also “For All Man Kind” on apple+ tv has moon marines with m16s which is interesting since space suits have kevlar to deal with micrometeorites but, well spoilers.

[@gagarin777]

@@JinKee kevlar is not good against rifle ammo. That is why level 3A vests can be made out of kevlar, but for level 3 to pass the requirements you need hardened plate.

[@holgerschrenk8827]

I really liked that she not just criticized the different suits but also took into account the necessities of movie-making and storytelling. That's really rare in videos like this.

[@MonkeyJedi99]

Another cool point about that scene in Destination Moon, the door opens INTO the airlock, so that a pressurized airlock would help hold the door closed as opposed to increasing the risk of it opening.

[@Teh1337H4x0rz111]

Man, that Dr Lewis is really interesting; I could listen to her for hours... Great analysis, short, to the point, and yet, thorough. I'd love to see more videos featuring her.

[@curlybrace314]

I wanna see her talk about more spacesuits! This was informative and cool.

[@rosstapson]

She is awesome, would like to see more content featuring her.

[@contaru]

What feels like an easy answer for why Ripley's suit was too big is that it wasn't made for her. It was a spare suit that was in the escape shuttle, and was probably made big enough to accomodate anyone on the crew.

[@mickyvlogs1602]

This is wonderful. Dr. Lewis does an amazing job, the way she takes the time of making into Account, her explanations of the real astronauts' needs. Please ask her to do another (couple of) episodes.

[@llYossarian]

Too often these experts don't have much of an appreciation for the filmmaking/the differences between what actually needs addressing as an "expert" and which parts are clearly necessary for the artifice and don't need critical analysis but Dr. Lewis seems to _get_ and love most of these movies in a way I don't know if I've seen on here before... I loved it.

[@mehere8038]

while I'm loving the way she tells what she has to say & she seems very knowledgable, I"m really trying to figure out how a Smithsonian person is an "expert" on spacesuits. What's her actual experience on this? I'm wondering if the Smithsonian keeps tv show space suits as well as real ones, therefore kinda making her an "expert" in both

[@ablemagawitch]

@@mehere8038 I would guess The Smithsonian would have both. Although they might be in different displayed and/or stored in different department sections. Real Space Suits would be in the in Air and Space section and the TV and Film in the entertainment section in the Humanities/culture Section/wings/buildings. Sorry not feeling well and forgetting the correct names.... What the public sees is very small sample of what they actually have in storage and available to lucky researchers. A Smithsonian behind the scene tours of what they act do there besides the displays is equally amazing. When they make a replacement part for any item, it is so close to the original, that they have to engrave it in way so that all future historians , preservationists, scientists, etc. will know that is not an original part.

[@mehere8038]

@@ablemagawitch That's cool :) I'm not in America, watching on after writing the above comment, she mentioned the air & space Smithsonian, is it a different wing/section or a completely different facility? The way you're speaking I'm thinking different wing/section, but the way she was speaking I was wondering if it might be a completely different facility. If it is just a different wing within the same facility, yeh, she would have amazing opportunities, imagine being able to actually look at all the famous scifi stuff side by side to the real stuff! Possibly even try it on, or at least touch it & really understand it. I wonder how many applicants they get for a job like that! Would be a LOT I would bet! That's interesting re the engravings too, thanks for sharing your knowledge on this stuff :)

[@brookeg5979]

I love this series, but Dr. Lewis was one of my very favorite guests you've had. Concise, informative, interesting, well delivered, and a fan of movies as well as the science of the suits so a depth of perspective we don't always get. Really enjoyed it, the 37 minutes disappeared in a blink!

[@erakfishfishfish]

Moon is one of those movies not enough people have seen. It’s so good.

[@feelflows]

The only downside to it is that Kevin Spacey’s in it. But that’s not the movies fault, it’s still one of my favourite movies ever

[@erakfishfishfish]

@@feelflows at least you don’t have to see his face

[@wingerding]

@@feelflows well he's one of the best actors of the last 50 years so it's not the greatest tragedy.

[@tylerandsandiescott2893]

I owe a hard copy. It would come to the bunker

[@josephcontreras8930]

Sam Rockwell did a stellar performance in moon.

[@ChristophVehr]

Would have loved to hear her opinion about Interstellar

[@Jaksi-a]

There's another one like this which covers aspects of interstellar, not sure if it's wired who has a series with a male astronaut, but I think so.

[@Moongod2500]

I think it was done by vanity fair

[@Jaksi-a]

@@Moongod2500 might be, I believe it has 2 or 3 different one with the same male astronaut talking about space in movies etc.

[@workingguy6666]

How about "The Expanse"?

[@Christian_Johansson]

Or anything, science of unclogging a toilet would probably be interesting if she was the one telling it.

[@tarmaque]

_Destination Moon_ was written by Robert Heinlein, who was also an engineer. His writing is almost all technically very scientifically correct. He loved to make his ballistics and equipment as correct as the science of his time could make them. Sure he also had fantastical elements to his stories, but they tended to be a single element that added excitement to the plot. In _Destination Moon_ he tried to make it as technically plausible as he could because so many of the contemporary "science fiction" of the day were so outlandish and ridiculous.

[@drewmccord1087]

Would’ve been cool to hear her talk about Firefly/Serenity.

[@alanrogers7090]

The spacesuits in "2001: A Space Odyssey", were designed by two NASA specialists, who also informed much of the other designs used in the film.

[@herbertkeithmiller]

A note on the space suits worn on Destination Moon, they're all different colored. When you see a someone in a suit you can't see who it is so you color them differently to be able to tell them apart. On the moon they used colored stripes on the helmet and arms and legs

[@Geographus666]

They only started doing that with A13 and onward though, after realizing that it was fairly hard to tell the astronauts apart in the photos of A11 and A12. I mean NASA could figure it out due to the photo-log, but for the public it was basically impossible.

[@salem-xh1pl]

please keep making more videos related to space!! i love them so much

[@justaguy6100]

One of the reasons that they made the helmet's face shield so large in Alien is so it would make the facehugger attack more plausible. They originally had planned more compact helmets with small face shields.

[@Vyzard]

Kinda wish she / GQ would show more of the museum suits photos when making these breakdowns.

[@cristiep7377]

I loved her! So much knowledge, wow!!

[@JSnyder3333]

I think the facemask material used in Star Trek was fine screen mesh. The appearance of the mask material just reminds me of looking through a mesh screen. It would have been cheap, easy to find, given an exotic look, and not as expensive as polycarbonate. The shape of the helmet lends itself to a rectangular screen as well.

[@fractuss]

Yes, the key phrase with TOS is "not as expensive", the studios were incredibly cheap with that show.

[@Deus69xxx1]

and would have allowed voice to go through without individual mics, and many other logistical nightmares of the decade.

[@rlpsychology]

Dr. Lewis, Really, really appreciate the detail, including the fabrication process.

[@christinekelly2434]

This is excellent! I would love to see a series of videos on this topic. And, thank you Dr. Lewis for your analysis of Sigourney Weaver's space suit in Alien - one of my all time favorite movies.

[@akizeta]

'Curator of Spacesuits' That's a cool job title.

[@ankiking]

So glad she spoke about Moon - amazing movie. Sunshine is another favorite!

[@jimmagwojo2718]

Thoroughly enjoyable, thank you Dr Lewis

[@billjohnson69]

It seems like the clear face shields in the Star Trek suits is actually a fairly tightly woven mesh, it gives it the look of a transparent plastic but can make the curve better and let the actor breathe and their voices be heard in the shot.

[@kristianstaalby8499]

And they don't reflect the entire scene like a mirror

[@markzambelli]

About the similarity of 2001: A Space Odyssey suits/helmets and Moonraker suits/helmets, especially Drax's 'yellow/orange' ones... they were both designed by Harry Lange (Lange had won a BAFTA for 2001 btw). For 2001 though, the suit was made by 'Frankenstein and Sons' (based in Manchester, United Kingdom) and the helmet and life-support packs were made by 'Master Models' (based in London). With both movies being made in England I wonder if both these companies were involved?

[@davidsalvador6031]

The gunfire has no recoil because they're energy weapons, I imagine lasers, and light beams have no appreciable mass even if made of photons travelling at lightspeed

[@shaggycan]

Came to say the same thing. I'm like um photons are massless, so no recoil.

[@ThisNoName]

light does have pressure and can move object in space, I think

[@matthewgumabon7498]

I think her point is that the astronauts on the receiving end of the laser guns are getting blasted away. A projectile with a significant amount of mass or an explosive is required to blast them in such a dramatic way. A high power laser weapon would likely just burn a hole through the pressure suit or melt instruments, tubing, etc. at the impact sight, pretty much still dooming the pilot of the suit, but in a much slower and less dramatic way.

[@jagrathty2743]

Nah.. I think she meant that if those weapons can blast enemy away.. means they carry some mass right? So they should have some recoil which they don't... And also, light in space does affect the speed of objects in space even though it's very very very less. But it does.

[@jagrathty2743]

@@matthewgumabon7498 yup, that's what I thought too

[@MrHws5mp]

Something I was wating for her to mention, which Adam Savage has pointed out numerous times, is that nearly all movie space suits have inwards facing lights inside the helmet so that the audience can see the actor's face, but that these would be highly counter-productive in a real space suit because they'd be blinding the astronaut.

[@rubens4747]

She understood the assignment

[@DwayneETowns]

Dr. Lewis is amazing! I could listen to her talk for hours. Knowledge expertise! Pointing out the bad technology of movie sci-fi space suits... Just brilliant!

[@MsFunology]

Wow. Up untill now, I didn't know a job called space suit curator and up untill now, I took space suit in movies for granted, thinking everything is accurate. Silly me. Should thank GQ for their breakdown videos. Very informative. I learned a lot about many things.

[@beeble2003]

Well, for anything that exists in museums, there's the potential for "that-thing curator" to be somebody's job.

[@jarink1]

The spacesuit in Alien is too large because it's a generic suit in a lifeboat. It makes sense for it to be a bit large to make sure there's enough room for whoever might be trying to save themselves. Plus, it's got Sigourney Weaver in it....

[@robotniqueee]

She's just surprised because Sigourney Weaver is a shade over 5'10. So unless the suits were designed for an average height of 6' then it's a surprise that it looks so big on her.

[@chemistrykrang8065]

@@robotniqueee I think she was a bit taller than that at the time. She's talked in interviews about being "six foot" and struggling to get roles as a result (she might have been rounding up a bit, I suppose)... I think the point stands, though - the suit could easily have been intended for a 6' 6" astronaut. It is also plausible that having an oversized suit was just an artistic decision to make the situation seem more uncomfortable and threatening.

[@qqqqcccc5937]

Thanks Dr. Lewis, I really enjoyed your scientific commentary and that fact that your comments were not derogatory of the films. I could also tell that you were a movie buff. You did a great job!

[@Ganiscol]

Yes, please! Until next time! Dr. Lewis is elaborate and pleasant to listen to, you just have to bring her back for more space things!

[@brianmontague6641]

Thanks doc you did a great job made it interesting for someone who knows quite a bit more than a fair amount about suits yet somebody who is a complete in office could very easily be absorbed into your vocal pattern and learn quite a bit you're a lucky person to be able to pass along such knowledge

[@Drake_Ebonheart]

wow I love listening to Dr. Lewis talk about one of my favorite subjects!

[@nefariousgremlin7554]

It's so cool that she's a fan of Moon, I love that movie too!

[@capellozapellini6074]

That idea of feeling like you’re falling at a fast speed while floating in space sounds so terrifying

[@crystalheart9]

Dr. Cathleen Lewis gave a very interesting talk about spacesuits, I enjoyed it! Thanks.

[@azoregturbo]

1) you got to have a ditch 2) appropriately sized helmet

[@sherryflavour3791]

She is so wel spoken and explains complicated concepts with such ease it's amazing! Really enjoyed the video

[@beowulf1417]

This was good! And boy yeah, Prometheus was a mess of mistakes in every conceivable way. Also, lasers wouldn't have recoil like a ballistic weapon so it's possible the suits' propulsion(?) systems would counter the minor recoil a laser gun would generate?

[@beeble2003]

Yeah, not sure what she was talking about, there. The recoil of a laser is so tiny that it's essentially zero.

[@bridgetboyle687]

Small nitpick Stargate Atlantis isn’t a space suit it’s actually armor. They stole the armor and put it on so they could enter the radiation room.

[@kdogtyson1108]

They're used in space in SGU which is something I would've liked to see in the video

And the materials they used are not exactly futuristic, but quite the opposite. They are ancient in every sense of the word.

[@kdogtyson1108]

@ they use them in space in sgu though the helmets different

[@Echostation3T8]

Fantastic video! 2 errors: Moonraker: lasers wouldn’t have a recoil. 2001: Bowman shot past the airlock controls and bounced off the opposite wall before getting to the controls.

[@NeoMorphUK]

2001 space suits reminded me of Mattel Toys Major Matt Mason. My big sister bought me my Major Matt. I loved that bellows jointed little man… up until the wire broke in said joints.

[@biggityboggityboo8775]

Why does this not have more views? This lady is a joy to watch.

[@q.h.s5051]

The Moonraker Lasers we're designed to have no recoil. One shot, quick kill, no blood, and no missing The perfect weapon

[@VicAusTaxiTruckie]

The SG Atlantis suits are meant to be alien in origin, they are fantastical, not based on human designs

[@ericssmith2014]

Also quite a bit of Iron Man (2008) influence there, where there's an in-the-helmet closeup on the face with nothing but flying HUD graphics visible. Unless this scene predates 2008, in which case the influence goes the other way around.

[@KosmoAlx]

I'm I the only one that would love to have this lady as a teacher?

[@Henkvanpeer]

Very informative expert analyses of space suits. Tnx very much, I learned a lot!

[@omnipedia-tech]

Interesting thoughts about the Stargate Atlantis suits. Normally on the show, they just used replications of regular space suits, since it was set in present day. Those suits in the clip were unique, not even designed for humans but rather they adjust to fit around any being that enters it, designed by little gray aliens who interacted with humans. I never really thought of them as space suits - more like alien power armor. She's great though! Would love to see her on Adam Savage's show.

[@ablemagawitch]

What no Space Above and Beyond" 1995 with their "The Wildcards" , nor a any of the Battlestar Galactica Universe series and films? Looks like there needs to be a follow up series of Space Expert Breaks Down Spacesuits Part 2 (maybe 3 and 4) in ...... Thank you Dr. Cathleen Lewis, I hope we see you do more of these educational videos. You are a great teacher for how you present the subject matter. Anyone that gets to hear you speak at the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum is extremely lucky.

[@jinron24]

You did a great job of describing suits and technology but one thing, in "Moonraker" if those are lasers their would be no recoil in the burst of light. And no sound either!

[@synxz214]

GQ’s videos are always so good

[@tankgrrl]

Wonderful! GQ, you always find the best people for these videos!

[@patricktilton5377]

How about that convenient handle on Chekov's EVA spacesuit in STAR TREK II: The Wrath of Khan, which Khan uses to pick him up with? What other function could that handle have?

[@andrewkaye2108]

I love her "pew, pew" comment when reviewing the Moonraker segment. Lol A very informative review of these movies. She did a fantastic job. :)

[@gina7288]

I cracked up at that but she missed the Aaaaaarrrrrgh bit out after the "Pew pew" bit.

[@artembentsionov]

That HUD inside the helmet view in SGA predates Iron Man

[@samuraikitty18]

I'm glad she touched on the lights inside the space suits. I know that they are used in movies so we can see our actors, but they are definitely not realistic!

[@JakeBarr17]

This was excellent!! I hope she does more

[@darrenerickson1288]

Awesome presentation and great GREAT selection of movies examined. Thank you! 🎉

[@F0xyTr0xy]

Dr. Lewis' flow of information on design and functionality of space suits was really impressive. I didn't realize how much thought and ingenuity went into space suits down to the thread used. I am really entertained by her breakdown of the suits in movies!

[@jcwg8314]

curator of space suits is such a cool job title!

[@mordinsolus161]

Thanks, Dr. Lewis. It was a pleasure to listen to you!

[@jrangel118]

I think i remember her coming to my school 20yrs ago for a space talk.

[@RoyaltyFreeVideoClips]

Serenity just had motorcycle helmets with a sound effect of decompression when being removed

[@rodmullen64]

I appreciate that she highlighted pros and cons as well as the feasibility and realism of the suits rather than giving a number value and basically saying anything negative. Overall very pleasant I didn't even realize it had been nearly 40 minutes

[@greatsilentwatcher]

I enjoyed the review. Some movies and TV shows I've seen and wondered about some of these things you mentioned.

[@davidsworld5837]

it was amazing i watch every minute of it. it is weird how the older movie did more thing correct when they had very little info about space.

[@otteotte7698]

So glad they included "Sunshine," lol

[@otteotte7698]

@@User-54631 Got that right, weirdest third act ever.

[@Julia-lk8jn]

I think the easy-to-shatter helmets on Prometheus were part of the "let's make sure that something goes dramatically wrong" mission design. You know, like naming your vessel after somebody who ends up chained to a rock, being eviscerated by an eagle once a day. She's right, Sigourney Weaver looks like she's disappearing in that astronaut's suit (but I think in close ups they changed it so doesn't peer over the lower end of the visor).

[@spinal_capped]

Naming exploration vessels after extremely ominous subjects is just a reflection of real-life! I mean, just look at the HMS Terror and HMS Erebus… 😬

[@iamnothingeverything6515]

Spacesuit gets ripped in space Person inside is completely fine somehow lol

[@robertgillis9986]

The stargate space suit was not actually a human space suit. It was an alien made life support/battlesuit. They just stole them so they could infiltrate with more protection. The typical stargate spacesuits look like modern spacesuits

[@koxey5427]

Amazing video as ever now I'll watch it

[@patar3323]

This is great stuff. Just wanted to add, when you lose your air in space, she says your goo bubbles out; the moisture in your mouth and eyes, boil, while the air in your lungs pushes out and right before you pass out. The boiling and freezing points drop with no or negative pressure, and since the only heat transfer touching nothing is purely radiation, which is the slowest form of heat transfer, I think, so it takes a pretty long time to actually freeze. And I'm talking space, the planet they were on had an atmosphere, just didn't contain any oxygen, so just simple asphyxiation.

[@Nghilifa]

Asphyxiation is what kills you in a vacuum too.

[@gina7288]

I remember my dad years back when we were watching Moonraker and he said the guys that got their suits punctured, that their bodies would expand and explode. It turns out that he was wrong she explained it well I remember my dad and boyfriend both saying they would of been screaming like those men if they were in a punctured spacesuit spinning around, it gave me a nightmare.

[@TheThundercool]

This deserves a second part on videogame spacesuits and spacearmor.

[@em_yu]

this was lovely, thank you

[@box-botkids3267]

Dr. Lewis gave excellent commentary. She balanced the science with the needs of the storytelling, which I found generous of her. She also inspired in me confidence in her expertise and credibility. Great teacher, great video. Thanks to all involved. This represents the best the internet contributes to our lives.

[@1wookieman]

I have been to the Smithsonian Air and Space museum 5 times. I live in NY. Dr Cathleen Lewis, thank you for doing this. It was very interesting. I have to get back to D.C.

[@Justanotherconsumer]

The thing about falling - my favorite description of flying generally is throwing yourself at the ground and missing.

[@brianbaswell5895]

I like hearing this lady explain things! She has a good cadence to her voice. She speaks very eloquently and intelligently. She keeps it at a level that the majority of people can understand and doesn't go over most people's heads; ( not using twenty syllable words that only university professors know the meaning of and understand). I wish my teachers in school would've been more like this! I may have cared more. Lol! ❤👍🙂

[@josephfoote3276]

What gets me about the movie "Moonraker" is all the combatants are oriented identically. They all have their feet pointed in the same direction.

[@Ganiscol]

The clearly were not thinking in three dimensions, just like Kahn in Star Trek II 😄

[@justinbeath5169]

Things would get disorganized very quickly of everyone was at a different angle

[@Michael_Bradburn]

Getting the coins off the bottom of the pool in gloved hands is simple slap the bottom next to the coins and catch with the other gloved hand.

[@lorenda79]

I love this series!

[@johnhopper314]

What a nice and open minded person when it comes to the future

[@DARisse-ji1yw]

Star Trek early on also had very limited prop budgets !

[@B1tcharp]

These videos are like the smarter version of Cinemasins

[@dianeneedham6703]

Vey Informative, thank you, good job.

[@fractuss]

My pet peeve is that so many movie helmets have lights on the inside lighting up the face. Blinding and ridiculous, done just so we can see the handsome stars mug. With all their wizardry surely they can find a way to make the face visible without the completely impractical LED's/little spotlights pointing right at it.

[@MortenPejterRoitmann]

Amazing person. Loved it. Thank you. 😄

[@julianwarren7770]

This is great. Only question… surely laser weapons would be recoilless? She seems surprised that there was no recoil in the Moonraker scenes

[@philippvoid1800]

you can use a lazerbeam to push a space-sail. so yea, it has recoil in space

[@DavidPaulMorgan]

Thank you Dr Lewis. This has been one of the most interesting overviews I've seen in a long time. Please can you look at The Expanse for us too?

[@erictaylor5462]

7:00 Well, she is in an emergency situation. If that alien realizes she is there she is dead anyway. So she is kind of rushing getting into the space suit. It does seem odd that the door would open with pressure inside the spacecraft though. Explosive decompression is usually avoided on a space craft, even in the future, I'm sure they would have devices that would prevent that.

[@LorenPechtel]

Yeah. Doors aren't going to open against pressure, period. That would be a horrible weakness in your spaceship design. If you need to waste your air rather than pump it back you'll have a separate vent.

[@erictaylor5462]

@@LorenPechtel It's not that. To prevent a spacecraft door opening by accident, you design the door in such a way that it is held closed by the pressure inside. They call these doors "plug doors" and in nearly all cases these doors open inward for at least part of the cycle. Look at how the doors on airlines open. In a few rare exceptions (such as large cargo doors) this isn't possible. Instead they have huge latches that *HAVE* to be engaged and remain that way for the entire flight. Years ago there was a design flaw in the cargo door of the DC-10. The door could seem locked even when it wasn't. Twice this door blew open in flight and in one case caused a scary emergency landing, and after they thought they fixed it, the door failed again, this time causing a crash. The door seen here just would not be safe in a spacecraft. Sure, you can have explosive bolts on the door, but once you do that, it's not closing again.

[@jetlifari]

Thank you! That was great 🤗

[@olemew]

35:44 WOW. I had never heard of this fact about being close to the Sun.