dietz@usc-cse@sri-unix (11/23/82)
As I recall, the idea behind the porous pressure suit is to support the skin so that it can withstand the body's internal pressure. It needn't be airtight to do this (just around the head, for breathing). The porosity allows evaporative cooling; much simpler than current suits. Didn't NASA test one of these things several years ago in a vacuum chamber? I seem to recall that it worked well. Someone should ask Pournelle about this.