The cosmonauts spacewalking from the International Space Station on Monday face a challenging day's work, but their successors should have an easier time thanks to new wearable computers currently being developed.

Researchers at Boeing and the MIT's Media Laboratory are developing a computer system that could be installed into a conventional space suit. Their prototype has already survived extreme electromagnetic radiation tests and been adapted so it does not ignite the pure oxygen which astronauts breathe.

Ilia Rosenberg, head of Communication and Tracking for the ISS at Boeing, says the system could assist astronauts who have become separated from the ISS by linking with the NASA-built micro satellites that monitor the ISS. An astronaut could be given images showing how to get back to the station safely using a jetpack, he says.

"They could easily become disoriented," says Rosenberg. "It becomes critically important that they can review information about where the space station is in relation to themselves."

Problem solving

Another important application will be solving unforeseen engineering problems. "If an astronaut is unable to solve a problem and the crew don't know how to solve it either, video could be uploaded from the ground to the station and then shown to the astronaut," Rosenberg told New Scientist.

He adds that, as each space walk costs around $1 million, the technology could have a major cost benefit by improving productivity.

NASA is working with Boeing and MIT to develop the prototype and Rosenberg estimates that a final system would cost "significantly less" than $1m. The researchers believe the technology could be made available in a few years.

Extreme testing

MIT's wearable computing researchers built the prototype based on off-the-shelf components to demonstrate that the idea was viable.

The first model consists of a pocket-sized computer, wireless networking card and a small head-mounted display. The system would provide video and audio through a connection to the station's existing radio communications infrastructure.

Boeing and MIT have conducted preliminary testing of the equipment to show that it could withstand deep space conditions and would not interfere with other equipment within a space suit.

The system has been demonstrated to withstand the intense radio frequency radiation produced by the ISS's communications antennae. And the power source running the computer has been reduced to below 500 milliwatts because a more high-powered electrical device could cause the pure oxygen inside a suit to ignite.

"This technology demonstration shows that we can transmit video and audio to an astronaut outside the space station, while meeting stringent safety standards," says MIT research scientist Steven Schwartz.

However, the prototype system does not have an input mechanism. Schwartz says that using voice recognition or some other method of control could interfere with an astronaut's communications and maintenance work.

The team demonstrated the technology at the 5^th International Symposium on Wearable Computers, in Zurich, Switzerland.