Marvel Movie Designer To Make Astronaut Outfits
SpaceX wants to carry its first
astronauts to the International Space Station next year and plans to
take humans to Mars by 2025.
09:39, UK,
Thursday 05
May 2016
The designer of Iron Man's costume is working for SpaceX Pic: ©Marvel 2016
The man who created the superhero outfits
in the Iron Man and Captain America movies has been hired to design the
space suits worn by SpaceX astronauts.
Company boss Elon Musk says he wants the designs to be
"stylish" and "heroic" - rather than the utilitarian outfits typically
designed for space travel.Marvel and DC movie legend Jose Fernandez says he has previously taken inspiration from Mr Musk when creating the costume for Iron Man - Robert Downey Jr's character Tony Stark is modelled on the billionaire inventor.
Reports suggest the design is unlikely to be ready until next year.
SpaceX wants to carry its first astronauts to the International Space Station then, and plans to take humans to Mars by 2025.
Iron Man flying through the skies in the hit 2008 movie. Pic: ©Marvel 2016
The outfits will be to be able to withstand extreme environments, as they will face a variety of temperatures.
Temperatures can fall as low as -150C in Earth's orbit alone, and reach as high as 120C.
NASA has said it wants to send its first astronauts to Mars wearing Z-2 suits which will be 3D printed and customised for each crew member.
The Tron-style outfits feature red electroluminescent details so they can be better seen in darkness, and are designed to make it easier to walk.
NASA said: "The suit is designed for maximum astronaut productivity on a planetary surface – exploring, collecting samples, and manoeuvring in and out of habitats and rovers."
NASA says it is aiming for a human mission to Mars in the 2030s.
