Images: NASA's new spacesuit designs--and old ones, too

NASA awarded Thursday a contract to Oceaneering International of Houston, Texas to develop new spacesuits that will protect astronauts on their treks to the International Space Station--and eventually the moon. The contract for NASA's Constellation Program gives Oceaneering International and its subcontractors until September 2014 to design, development, test, and evaluate the new suits.

The first spacesuit, called Configuration One, will be worn in the new Orion spacecraft for launch and landing; problems in the crew compartment; and emergency space walks. The new suit will include a helmet-feed port for 120-hour survival, elbow and knee joints, modular boots, umbilical connectors, and a rear entry zipper.