Private Space Station Visitors Will Need More Than Casual Wear
▼ Summary
– Vast has unveiled a custom two-piece flight suit designed for use both on Earth and in space, moving away from the off-the-rack clothing worn by US astronauts for over 25 years.
– The company also certified a custom Swiss wristwatch for use aboard its upcoming Haven-1 commercial space station.
– Drew Feustel, Vast’s lead astronaut, noted that astronauts on the ISS have shifted away from daily flight suits as the environment became safer and more Earth-like.
For a quarter-century, NASA astronauts have made do with off-the-shelf clothing while living and working in orbit. But as the era of commercial space stations dawns, one company is rethinking what crew members should wear , both inside the spacecraft and out.
Vast, the company developing what it aims to be the world’s first private space station, has unveiled a custom-designed astronaut flight suit tailored for life aboard its upcoming Haven-1 station. The two-piece ensemble is built to function equally well in microgravity and on Earth, marking a departure from the casual wardrobe that has become standard on the International Space Station.
Alongside the suit, Vast has also certified a Swiss-made wristwatch for use in space, ensuring crew members have a reliable timepiece that can withstand the rigors of orbital flight.
“Over the last two decades on the International Space Station, astronauts have moved away from wearing flight suits every day,” said Drew Feustel, Vast’s lead astronaut and a former NASA mission specialist who logged 225 days in space. “The environment has become safer and more like how we work on Earth.”
That shift toward comfort and practicality on the ISS has been gradual, but Vast’s new approach signals a more deliberate, purpose-driven philosophy for commercial spaceflight. As private stations prepare to host not only professional astronauts but also paying visitors and researchers, having gear that is both functional and presentable becomes a branding opportunity as much as a safety requirement.
The flight suit and watch represent early steps in outfitting a new generation of space travelers , ones who will need more than just casual wear to make the journey.
(Source: Ars Technica)
