Under Armour and Virgin Galactic: A space suit for space tourism

2019: Development of space equipment

On October 17, 2019 the companies Under Armour also Virgin Galactic announced creation of a space suit for space tourism. Earlier the Under Armour company announced that it became the exclusive partner of Virgin Galactic in development of space equipment. Creation of equipment for flight in space became for Under Armour a call therefore in the company there was a special command working together with Virgin Galactic on creation of safe, functional and comfortable space equipment and footwear.

"This project differs from the others, it is difficult and at the same time fascinating work. Flights in space mean a high security and require atypical approach to creation of equipment. What we developed based on our key technologies, will define the future of space equipment", 'Kevin Planck, the founder and the head of Under Armour noted'

As noted in Under Armour, an upper part of equipment is executed using such fabrics, such as, of Tencel Luxe, SpinIt and NomexFuture providing temperature monitoring of a body and sweating. In addition to hi-tech fabrics, UA used also traditional: cooling, smooth, quick-drying, convenient and safe. UA Clone, the material which is specially developed by Under Armour precisely repeats a shape of a body of the astronaut in elbows and knees to avoid even the slightest diskomofort and to provide ideal landing and mobility. In shoulders of which in flight the heavy load is the share the lining with UA HOVR technology is sewed.

Equipment has also a number of functional features: for example, in a space suit there are a lot of pockets allowing to have always at themselves all necessary. In addition, in it the radio set button is sewed. Each iteration of equipment passed careful test by all VG command, including pilots, engineers of the spaceship, physicians, astronauts-instructors and also client focus group. It allowed to be convinced that in flight equipment will meet completely expectations, claim in Under Armour.

Darkly blue color acted as the basic, it was added by light blue elements and gold impregnations. On a back part of a space suit so-called DNA of flights Virgin Galactic which symbolizes a full compliance of equipment of the mission assigned to it is represented. The designers working on equipment understood that equipment influences astronauts and from the emotional point of view. Having communicated to potential buyers and having consulted to a command of Virgin Galactic, Under Armour created the space suit answering including to psychological requests of future astronauts. The space suit was supplied with a transparent inside pocket in heart: it is possible to place photos of the family in it. On each space suit there is a stripe developed individually for each space mission. After flight the stripe can be removed and attached to a jacket which to astronauts will be issued upon return home.

"When we ensured functionality and safety in terms of technical characteristics, we wanted to recover equipment, having added to it corporate "highlight" of Under Armour and having paid attention to the purposes and achievements of Virgin Galactic. We could rethink how space equipment should look and at the same time involve the elements of classical space suits and equipment known loved by all not only on last space expeditions, but also according to cult movies about space", 'Nick Tsenski, the designer of Under Armour specializing in key innovations noted'

Also UA made space boots high-functional, sustained in style, uniform with a space suit. Having inspired by footwear of drivers of racing cars and having used advanced technologies, UA departed from a usual silhouette of space boots: the bulkiness reincarnated in ease, mobility and diminutiveness. The adaptive UA Clone technology, in addition to equipment, was used also during creation of footwear: thanks to it the boot ideally sits on a leg, repeating a foot form. Pen UA HOVR provides depreciation, functionality, convenience and fire resistance. In the conditions of zero gravity especially important that the boot was smooth and soft and it was not hooked for anything. Space UA boots conform to this requirement, consider in UA.

On insoles of boots Isaac Newton's, congenial Virgin Galactic quote is printed: "We stand on shoulders of giants". On boots DNA of flights Virgin Galactic and a logo of the company is also represented.

According to the statement of UA, the functional linen developed by UA and VG performs function of "second skin", supplementing Under Armour technology under the name RUSH. Linen promotes improvement of functions of an organism and blood-groove at overloads and in the conditions of zero gravity. All set of linen is created from Intelliknit fibers from UA allowing to provide full control of sweating and body temperature. By production of Intelliknit fibers it is practically not formed waste that corresponds to the concept of sustainable development to which Under Armour and Virgin Galactic adhere.

Development of an end-to-end system of space clothes is a next step on the way to a common goal of two brands: to creation of the better future and maintenance of sustainable development by means of space tourism, noted in UA.