A multi-layered tether that connects an astronaut's pressure suit to the spacecraft's life support systems. It delivers breathing oxygen, circulates cooling water to regulate body temperature, and provides hardwired communication lines. It also acts as a physical safety tether to prevent the astronaut from drifting away in microgravity.
Heard on the job
Ensure your umbilical cord is free of snags before translating to the airlock.
Also heard as
- umbilical