Heather Norden WIP

Moved from scraps, mainly so I could talk about Anno Astra softsuits.

The pilot's softsuit is basically a type of Mechanical Counter-Pressure suit; unlike today’s pressure suits as used by NASA, an MCP suit, first conceptualized in the late 1960's, is basically a skin-tight suit made of very strong fabric that holds the body together against its internal pressure. The fabric can actually be porous, allowing for natural cooling through perspiration, and tears in the suit aren't instantly fatal. If you’re wondering why spacesuits are often depicted as skintight affairs instead of the bulky real-life stuff, then they’re MCP suits. A pressurized helmet with a proper neck dam is still a necessity, though. The AA version is tough enough to act as armour, protecting against shrapnel and other low-velocity projectiles.

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In this example, the additional soft-armour pads, especially the ones protecting the thighs, act in the same manner as modern g-suit bladders; they restrict the circulation of blood during high-g periods. While the typical human tends to have higher resistance to g's due to centuries of genetic tinkering, the tolerance to high g's from one individual to another can vary a great deal, even if they share the same genetic history.

MS pilots rarely grow their hair long. It’s difficult to put a helmet on quickly with loose, long hair without compromising the airtight seal between the helmet and the neck dam. Strands of hair can also interfere with the control interface which is a hallmark of MS pilots: the neural inductance collar. MS pilots usually take care to shave the portion at nape to ensure proper contact with the collar.