From Virgin Galactic to Space X: 3 Space Suits for Future Star Travelers
While the modern tourist–astronaut will soon have his pick of rides into the great beyond, it’s not all about rocket size: Each company will kit out passengers in a proprietary—and contemporarily styled—space suit. Here’s what you could be wearing for the ultimate, once-in-a-lifetime selfie. Plan accordingly.
Virgin Galactic
Developed with Under Armour, this breathable, flexible suit will be custom-fitted to each passenger during their three-day pre-flight training. It comes in a handsome deep blue with gold accents and plenty of pockets. Lightweight materials like Nomex keep weight to a barely-there 5.5 pounds. The designers also used Nomex in the seating so there’s an unusual comfort factor for the tourist astronaut. Since SpaceShipTwo will reach only suborbital altitudes, there’s no pressurization or helmet required. Discreet integrated pads will protect passengers during zero-gravity floats.
SpaceX
Created by Hollywood costumer Jose Fernandez (Wonder Woman, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice) this suit has the vibe of a Star Wars stormtrooper in a tux, but it’s also light (only about 20 pounds) flexible and fire-resistant. A single plug connects it to the spacecraft’s power, communications and air systems, making it exceptionally streamlined while also protecting against cabin depressurization.
Boeing Starliner
A 21st-century evolution of what U-2 pilots and Gemini astronauts wore in the 1960s, the Boeing Blue suit weighs just 12 pounds and is far less bulky than its forebears. It also includes cool features such as cross-trainer-inspired shoes, vents that seal automatically in the case of depressurization, touchscreen-sensitive gloves and a zip-on helmet that plays Star Wars on a loop on the inside of the visor. Oh, all right . . . not really on the Star Wars, though it’s not a bad idea.
More from Robb Report
From a Supersonic Jet to a Tourist Spaceship: How Virgin Galactic Could Change Travel as We Know It
Elon Musk's SpaceX vs Jeff Bezos's Blue Origin: Which Space Project Will Dominate the Cosmos?
The Other Kind of Moonwalk: Here's How to Float in Space Without a Spaceship
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