Cameron Smith is building a space suit in his apartment.

He's not an astronaut. He's not even an engineer. Cameron Smith is an archaeologist--on faculty in the anthropology department at Portland State University in Oregon. But Cameron is an explorer by nature. He’s been diving in Puget Sound, survived arctic winters in Iceland and Alaska and summited Oregon’s Mount Hood more times than he can count.

Now he wants to take on outer space. And since Cameron doesn't have an entire space program behind him, that means doing it on the cheap. His homemade space suite costs $2,000. A standard issue suit from NASA runs about $12 million.

The space suit has been a 3 years in the making. Eventually, Cameron will put on the suit and step into a gondola and a balloon (also homemade) will take him up 50,000 feet in the air. At that point, he'll be depending on his own craftiness to keep himself alive.

This episode is based off an episode of the public radio program and podcast, Destination DIY.

99% Invisible-96- DIY Space Suit

Shot

Sleep Rules Everything Around Me

Get it on iTunes: http://smarturl.it/quinine / Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ay5m0W / Spotify: http://spoti.fi/2b7c8KQ

Dessa just released a brand new single called "Quinine"!!! The track was produced by Paper Tiger with co-production by Lazerbeak and additional production from Dessa herself (shout out to that sweet marimba). A true family affair and ultimate collabo heat knocker in every sense. This is the first new bit of recorded music that Dessa has released since 2013's Parts of Speech album and hints at way more to come.

Written and performed by Dessa
Produced by Paper Tiger
Co-produced by Lazerbeak
Additional production by Dessa

Mixed by Joe Mabbott at the Hideaway
Mastered by Bruce Templeton at Microphonic

Photo by Bill Phelps

Quinine

Quinine - Single

Buy on iTunes

Dessa "Quinine"

A collection of every #1 song on Billboard's Hot Modern Rock Tracks (now known as "Alternative Songs"), from Siouxsie and the Banshees' "Peek-a-Boo" to Of Monster's and Men's "Little Talks" -- which became the 300th #1 on the chart in July 2012.

5 Seconds of Every #1 on Billboard's Hot Modern Rock Tracks (1988-2012)

E-flat major: Master of the Universe

A tiny radio show about design, architecture &amp; the 99% invisible activity that shapes our world.

http://99percentinvisible.org/

New episodes every Wednesday.

On the radio on 91.7 KALW in San Francisco. Fridays at 7:35am and 4:30pm, Saturdays at 8:35am.  And public radio stations across the country.

Created by Roman Mars.


99% Invisible-96- DIY Space Suit

Roman Mars

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