Pacific Spaceflight

We design, build & flight-test simple, low-cost space suits for the benefit of humanity. Not a business. Goal=65,000 ft. Fueled by Aviator's Breathing Oxygen.

[Pacific Spaceflight @Pacific_Space]

@dslsynth Thanks! For a long time, the appearance of the suit meant nothing to me, beauty was function alone. In recent years it's been important to improve the 'outer appearance'. Function remains good as ever and I have good reason for confidence in these for hi-alt flying :)

[Pacific Spaceflight @Pacific_Space]

Recent suit testing at UCSD--back at UC Berkeley late May to lecture and some interesting meetings. Busy times! With G. Gekas and E. Bethke, thanks fellas! Flying resumes in July :)

[Pacific Spaceflight @Pacific_Space]

Working away at Santa's Workshop :) Several suits underway for 2024, and two flying expeditions planned, as well as weekly eval of flying conditions for shorter trips. Ballooning needs perfect conditions, large team, and funds, tough to always get all three on a good wx wknd!

[Pacific Spaceflight @Pacific_Space]

Have fun!

[Pacific Spaceflight @Pacific_Space]

After lots of suit demos and tests this last quarter of the year, now home and back to FLYING! Start altitude flight attempts mid-November :) Photo: early pressurized suit balloon flight in 2018!

[Pacific Spaceflight @Pacific_Space]

Preparing for a dive in the NBL suit with Rodrigo and Trent -- all well!

[Pacific Spaceflight @Pacific_Space]

@JohnChinner major glove revisions in the last couple of years :)

[Pacific Spaceflight @Pacific_Space]

Good 2nd test of the NBL suit. One more test, then verification testing 2024 at U Az, Groton Ct, and a NASA facility offshore Florida. Suit checks out so far, achieving neutral- and just-negative buoyancy as needed. CO2 & suit temp numbers all well :)

[Pacific Spaceflight @Pacific_Space]

NBL suit now has a coverall :) Further pool testing slated for late Oct in Groton, CT, U Az and then Florida!

[Pacific Spaceflight @Pacific_Space]

@JohnChinner @SolentAirport what a beauty!

[Pacific Spaceflight @Pacific_Space]

Good 'wet' test of an NBL training suit I have built since Feb this year. Just needs tweaks on ballasting. All well! Still checking out video.

[Pacific Spaceflight @Pacific_Space]

Well just one more pre-splash test :) All well! L and R sleeves, wrist assemblies and gloves are built slightly different so that I can evaluate each approach at the same time. All well!

[Pacific Spaceflight @Pacific_Space]

I think that's about it for 'dry' tests, headed for the pool next :)

[Pacific Spaceflight @Pacific_Space]

Good landing the other day, good work by copilot Juliet McGraw, you can see she hauled on a deflation line just as instructed just at the moment of landing. Music - Javier Molina, 'Cowboy Cumbia'

[Pacific Spaceflight @Pacific_Space]

Pleased to take up another of the long-serving PS crew! Juliet M has been with us for several yrs & had a much-deserved good flight over Albany, OR! Great day, crew and comms. All well!

[Pacific Spaceflight @Pacific_Space]

Final testing before first 'splash' of the NBL suit!

[Pacific Spaceflight @Pacific_Space]

Instructional flight for copilot Mars! All well!

[Pacific Spaceflight @Pacific_Space]

@Lusavitch We are in a long-term project to open-source the basic pressure suit tech. But still a little early, I'm afraid.

[Pacific Spaceflight @Pacific_Space]

Decent first pressure test of the NBL suit underway. 'Decent' means about 20 tweaks necessary :) Otherwise, All Well!

[Pacific Spaceflight @Pacific_Space]

Good team-building adventure, climbing in the Columbia R. Gorge with my balloon copilots! Marvelous fresh air and several hours roped climbing & scrambling. All well! Team members learn about ropes, knots, risk management, good decision-making...all applicable to balloon flying!

[Pacific Spaceflight @Pacific_Space]

NBL suit gas control unit rough build test, a-OK :)