“Astroskin” Shirt For Tracking Astronauts’ Vital Signs

The tank top looks like it is made for gym junkie. But it can do more than just catching sweat as it can tracks the vital signs of astronauts unobtrusively.

This smart shirt is called the Astroskin Bio-Monitor System jersey. It is a product of Carré Technologies (or Hexoskin) in Quebec, Canada. In 2016, the company and the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) signed a contract worthing multi-million dollar for the development of the shirt.

Air & Space Magazine reported that the shirt was sent into space in Dec 2018. David Saint-Sacques, a Canadian astronaut, was the first man to try it on the ISS (International Space Station).

Sensors are woven into the fabric of the smart shirt. The shirt also comes with a headband to measure everything from blood oxygen levels and breathing rate to blood pressure and skin temperature.

For data-syncing, the company also develops a web and smartphone app. The information that the shirt measures is transmitted back to a control room on Earth for data analysis.

The idea behind the making of this shirt it to efficiently and easily track the vital signs of astronauts on board the ISS. Previously, this data is tracked through activity sensors, blood pressure cuffs, and electrocardiographs. However, CSA has pointed out that to use these devices in space would be time-consuming and disruptive. The company is aiming to provide this smart shirt for all astronauts staying on the ISS after some time.

And it can be used not just in space. The shirt has proved to be also useful for people who cannot get out of bed or those who don' t have access to healthcare.

The only drawback of this shirt? It is powered by two AA batteries which require for replacement every 48 hours.