IT’S the ultimate holiday souvenir, even classier than a T-shirt with Florida on the front. Virgin Galactic has unveiled the suits that future tourists will get to wear on their private trips to space.
The best bit? The company has promised that travellers will get to keep the innovative blue suits as a memento of their trip – so long as they stump up an astronomical quarter of a million dollars for a ticket.
But surely that’s worth it, just to be able to go down the shops to buy rolls and a paper of a morning kitted out in a real spacesuit. Just think how cool you’d look in that big globe helmet and moon boots. And Halloween parties would never be a problem ever again. Out of this world, or what?
Erm, except this new suit, made by sportswear specialist Under Armour, isn’t quite as glam as the more traditional cut of spacesuit.
Think Top Gun meets motor mechanic and add a pair of ankle-high bootees more akin to scuba diving footwear. There’s not even a helmet. That’s hardly going to satisfy your inner Gagarin.
The outfit consists of a base layer, a spacesuit, shoes, a training suit and a limited-edition jacket. The companies say it is the first time a collection has been made for private astronauts, which doesn’t strike me as that surprising a claim to fame.
Under Armour said that the clothes would be personally tailored for each astronaut to ensure they fit properly. Nothing worse than spending all that money only for your pants to chafe on landing.
They will also include individual features that identify those wearing them: they will include references to the mission they are on, but also country flags and name badges as well as a special pocket “for photographs of loved ones, who will literally be close to the heart”. (“Captain, we’re going to have to take her up to cheese factor nine!”)
Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank said the company used its patented technology to develop a suit to keep passengers warm, dry, comfortable and safe.
“Mobility, pliability, flexibility are the things that really we built into this suit to make it unlike any other flight suit,” said Plank.
A bit like M&S thermals then. Haud me back.
However, Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Galactic’s billionaire founder, reckons the suits are really rather alluring.
He said: “I think the whole experience of going to space should be sexy. Our spaceships are sexy. Our motherships are sexy. Our spaceport is sexy. And for younger people than myself, this suit is also sexy.”
Whatever turns you on, Richard.
Branson added: “Spacesuits are a part of the iconography of the first space age; our visual impressions of human spaceflight and what astronauts wear are inextricably linked. I love the way the spacewear looks, and I love the way it feels. I also love the fact that the next time I put it on, I will be on my way to space.”
(“Captain, we’re going to have to take her up to cheese factor 10!”)
As sci-fi writer Robert Heinlein noted: “Have spacesuit, will travel.”
But don’t be too peeved if your travel budget doesn’t stretch to $250,000. Primark are sure to do their own version of this intergalactic fashion statement. Watch this space …
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