Spaceflight

NASA's Orion crew exploration vehicle could have an integrated seat and spacesuit, says deputy associate administrator for exploration operations Michael Foale. The four- to six-crew Orion is to have couch-like seats and studies are ongoing as to whether the launch and entry suit will be separate from or integrated into the seat.

The final seat arrangement will affect the cockpit's ergonomic designs. Until Lockheed Martin won the $8 billion contract in August to develop and produce the Orion's crew and service modules, there had been separate suit and seat design teams.