ESA Space Suit Design Competition Winners Announced

The winners of the ESA Space Suit Design competition have been announced by the European Space Agency.

“The design of our future spacesuit for the European Space Agency centers around the notion of European identity and some of its key values."

Oussama Guarraz, Space Suit Designer

The ESA Space Suit Design Competition collected ideas from the general public on what a future European extra-vehicular activity (EVA) suit could look like. Taking into account the extreme conditions spacewalk suits must withstand to protect our astronauts, participants were challenged to design a suit that is instantly recognizable for ESA astronauts. The competition placed an emphasis on ESA’s visual identity and branding rather than the technical, details and competition open to everyone interested in space and design.

The winners were invited to a celebratory event at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) near Cologne, Germany, for a tour of the site. The busy day included presentations on ESA’s Terrae Novae exploration vision and Spaceship EAC activities including a lunar VR experience. The winners presented their ideas to EAC staff including the astronaut candidates and visited the EAC facilities where they are currently receiving basic training: the training hall, and Neutral Buoyancy Facility.

The competition focused on aesthetics rather than function. Taking into account the extreme conditions spacewalk suits must withstand to protect our astronauts, participants were challenged to design a suit that is instantly recognizable for ESA astronauts. Over 90 ideas were received, and an ESA jury of exploration experts reviewed these proposals and ultimately selected five winners.

Examples of ESA Space Suit Design Competition Winners

One of the designs selected in the ESA Space Suit Design Competition was submitted by Alberto Piovesan. “Simplicity and equilibrium are the two central elements of my design,” he write in his proposal.

“I included both the white and the deep space blue ESA colors: the white to ensure a high visibility in space, and the deep space blue ESA color to emphasize a strong ESA visual identity. The color-blocking concept is expressed through an asymmetrical solution to convey dynamicity, something surely typical of space and all its elements."

Another of the selected designs was submitted by Oussama Guarraz. “The design of our future spacesuit for the European Space Agency centers around the notion of European identity and some of its key values: modernity, cutting-edge technology, innovation, and sustainability,” he said in his proposal.

Guarraz also mentions technical elements. “The helmet has an advanced ventilation system to ensure comfortable and efficient breathing. The solar panels on the combination generate solar energy, reducing the use of disposable batteries and increasing ESA’s commitment to sustainability and the environment,” he wrote.

(Source: ESA. Images provided)