Astronauts are exposed to high levels of space radiation, especially when out on a spacewalk. While water is effective at protecting the human body from this radiation, suits using liquid water can be uneven, bulky and prone to leaks. With funding from the Discovery element of ESA's Basic Activities, a team from Ghent University is designing more resilient and comfortable personal radiation shielding for astronauts by replacing the liquid with superabsorbent polymers that can instead absorb several hundred times their own weight in water. The project is based on an idea submitted by Ghent University through the Open Space Innovation Platform (OSIP).