The European Space Agency (ESA) has revealed the outcomes of its spacesuit concept competition, and Universe Today provides the initial overview of these results.
Currently, ESA does not operate a dedicated crewed spacecraft or space station apart from modules on the International Space Station. Yet the agency keeps a strategic reserve of technology and ideas to cover future scenarios. In this spirit, a competition was organized to design spacesuit concepts intended for non-vehicle space activities, emphasizing life-support independence, mobility, and field usability for astronauts on future missions.
Out of ninety submissions, a panel of experts selected five standout winners. The featured project in the accompanying image was created by Oussama Guarras and centers on themes of modernity, advanced technology, innovation, and sustainability, aiming to push the boundaries of suit design while considering long-term operational viability.
ESA extended invitations to all five winners for a study visit to the European Astronaut Centre near Cologne, Germany, to review training, testing, and EVA (extravehicular activity) preparation processes with ESA engineers and researchers.
Hervé Stevenin, head of the centre’s EVA preparation department, commented that there will likely come a time in the coming years when an ESA astronaut wears a European-built suit to explore the Moon, Mars, or other distant destinations. He added that the competition marks a meaningful step in this exciting trajectory, fueling the imagination about future fieldwork in space.
The proposed suits must withstand the harsh conditions of space while remaining instantly recognizable and capable of conveying a distinct European identity. Essential components include a life-support backpack and a helmet visor integrated into the system. The competition was open to anyone with an interest in space exploration and design, encouraging broad participation from engineers, designers, students, and enthusiasts alike.
In a broader historical note, paleontologists once proposed theories that the ancient megalodon shark was warm-blooded, a hypothesis debated within the scientific community as new evidence emerged.