In an unexpected twist to the decades-long space race, European astronauts are set to receive their mission gear from an unlikely source: high street sports retailer Decathlon. The French brand, better known for affordable hiking boots and camping gear than cosmic couture, has developed a prototype spacesuit for the European Space Agency that will be tested aboard the International Space Station next year.
High Street Meets High Orbit
The announcement creates a striking contrast with NASA's approach to spacesuit design. While the American space agency has partnered with Italian luxury fashion house Prada for its next-generation lunar suits, ESA has turned to the practical expertise of Decathlon. The French retailer's dark grey 'EuroSuit' represents a significant departure from traditional spacewear, focusing on functionality and accessibility rather than high-fashion credentials.
The prototype intra-vehicular activity (IVA) suit is specifically engineered for critical mission phases including launch and landing, with one remarkable feature setting it apart: astronauts can don or remove the entire suit without assistance in under two minutes. This rapid deployment capability could prove crucial during spacecraft emergencies where every second counts.
Engineering Innovation for Extreme Environments
Decathlon's EuroSuit incorporates several groundbreaking advancements that demonstrate the company's technical prowess. The helmet features a lattice-structured design that enables perfect custom fitting to each astronaut's head shape and size. Strategic placement of expanding 'bellows' at shoulders, elbows and knees ensures maximum mobility in the confined quarters of space capsules.
The suit addresses unique challenges of space travel through clever engineering solutions. Adjustable length compensation accounts for the natural elongation of astronauts' bodies in microgravity, while air-tight zippers with ergonomic pullers make the suit both secure and user-friendly. These features represent Decathlon's ambitious attempt to transfer its sports innovation expertise into the extreme environment of human spaceflight.
The Test Pilot and Future Missions
ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot has been selected to put the Decathlon prototype through its paces during her International Space Station mission scheduled for 2025. Her testing regimen will include comprehensive evaluation sequences: suiting up and removing the garment, manipulating small objects while wearing it, operating the station's touchscreen tablet, and assessing overall mobility.
Feedback from Adenot's orbital trials will directly inform development of the fully operational EuroSuit version, which will incorporate essential systems including air-tight sealing, fire resistance, breathable atmosphere control, built-in communications and head-up display interfaces. The testing represents a crucial step toward Europe achieving greater autonomy in human spaceflight capabilities.
Decathlon developed the EuroSuit in collaboration with French national space agency CNES, startup Spartan Space and The Institute of Space Medicine and Physiology. This partnership highlights how space technology increasingly draws upon diverse industrial expertise beyond traditional aerospace sectors.
Meanwhile, NASA's partnership with Prada focuses on the Artemis III mission scheduled for September 2026 at the earliest. The luxury-designed suit will need to withstand extreme temperatures at the lunar south pole while providing enhanced flexibility and mobility for at least eight hours of surface exploration. The contrast between approaches underscores different philosophies in addressing the challenges of space exploration.
As Sébastien Haquet, Head of Advanced Innovation at Decathlon, noted: 'The EuroSuit embodies our ability to push the boundaries of innovation beyond our traditional fields of expertise.' This venture represents not just a technical achievement but a symbolic statement about democratizing space technology through practical, accessible design.
