Ferrozuit: Ferromagnetic Electronic Textile System for Zero-Gravity Spatial Anchoring

Abstract

Long-duration human space missions introduce persistent physical, physiological, and psychological challenges stemming from the absence of gravity. Beyond major concerns like bone deterioration, cardiovascular deconditioning, and muscle atrophy, astronauts frequently experience spatial disorientation, discomfort during routine tasks, and difficulty maintaining stable body positioning. These subtle yet pervasive issues impact daily functioning, underscoring the need for lightweight, unobtrusive solutions that support orientation, comfort, and stability in microgravity environments. Ferrozuit introduces a solution to address these challenges in microgravity. It is a prototype crafted from custom ferromagnetic thread, woven and tailored to interact with programmable (electro)permanent magnets embedded within the microgravity environment. This system aims to provide an anchoring force intended to improve stability during tasks, enhance comfort during rest, and create a sense of orientation. This paper details the design rationale, the fabrication of the ferromagnetic textile, the magnetic docking system, initial technical evaluations, and potential applications. Ferrozuit reimagines spatial anchoring as an embedded, textile-driven experience, blending textile craft with advanced materials for adaptive wearable anchoring in microgravity environments.