Final answer:
The author develops the claim by highlighting how the new spacesuit design for the Apollo missions allowed for increased mobility on the Moon, enabling astronauts to explore more effectively and conduct scientific activities. Option b is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The author has developed the overall claim that the new spacesuit allowed astronauts more movement while exploring the Moon. This claim can be substantiated by examining the specifics of the Apollo missions and the advancement in spacesuit design. The Apollo program was monumental in human space exploration and brought about significant technological innovations, including the development of the moon buggy used by crews during Apollo 15, 16, and 17, which allowed for increased mobility on the Moon's surface.
Moreover, the suits used during the Apollo missions were tailored to the challenging environment of the Moon, allowing astronauts to move more freely compared to earlier suits. The design of these suits was focused on providing both mobility and life support, essential for the astronauts to conduct scientific activities and explore geological sites. With extended stays and more elaborate equipment, the mobility offered by the new spacesuits was crucial to the mission's success, as exemplified by the presence of the geologist Jack Schmitt during the last Apollo landing.
Therefore, when considering the level of scientific exploration, which increased with each mission and the use of more advanced equipment, it became imperative to have spacesuits that supported these activities. The details included in the passage underscore the importance of mobility in spacesuits for lunar exploration, thereby aligning with the development of the claim mentioned. So, the correct option answer that fills in the blank is "Allowed astronauts more movement in".