The future is already here: Elon Musk's SpaceX has created a space suit for tourists to enter outer space. Photos and videos

SpaceX has revealed what its space tourists will wear during the first-ever private spacewalk in 2024. In a new video, the company describes in detail the futuristic features of the spacesuit that will be tested in space during the Polaris Dawn mission.

The spacesuits of Elon Musk's aerospace company combine fashion and functionality, writes New Atlas. In doing so, SpaceX dispels the myth of "bulky goldfish helmet suits that are as easy to put on and use as scuba diving gear."

In fact, spacesuits are very complex engineering products. They are diverse and often really difficult to put on and use. After all, it's a kind of spaceship in the shape of a human that performs many of the same functions, including propulsion.

Some may ask why SpaceX is releasing a new spacesuit if it already has one for use on the Dragon capsule. Is it just a desire to freshen up the look? Not really.

We are currently using an intra-ship activity (IVA) suit. This is a so-called "emergency suit". Its function is to protect passengers in the event of a loss of cabin pressure. If this happens, the helmet's visor closes, the suit switches to the emergency life support system, and the wearer stays alive and waits to return to Earth.

The problem is that this is all the suit can do. Under pressure, it turns into a human-shaped balloon, and the wearer can only move with great difficulty. The fabric is also not very strong, the helmet visor cannot withstand direct sunlight, and the entire suit is not designed to protect the user outside the capsule.

As SpaceX plans the first private spacewalk later this year as part of the Polaris Dawn mission, a private SpaceX mission on behalf of Shift4 Payments CEO Jared Isaacman, a new suit is needed. It's called the Extravehicular Activity (EVA) suit and is essentially a significantly updated version of the suits the U.S. used for the Apollo, Skylab, Space Shuttle, and International Space Station missions.

It is designed to have much greater mobility under pressure, be less vulnerable to tears and abrasions, maintain a comfortable temperature protect against micrometeorites, and allow for work rather than just emergency protection.

According to SpaceX, the new EVA suit is based on the current IVA model, which is scheduled to be replaced over time. It retains the same lines and tight fit, which is a plus in a cramped capsule or when passing through hatches, and does not require the astronaut's couch to be converted. However, the spacesuit is scalable, so it can be adjusted to fit different body types.

The EVA suit uses new materials, manufacturing processes, and rotating joints to provide greater mobility under pressure and better comfort when deflated. Seals, zippers, and valves are designed with a high degree of redundancy in case of failure.

In addition, the 3D-printed helmet has a new visor with a copper and tin oxide coating that protects against sun glare. It also contains a display and camera that provide real-time information about the pressure, temperature, and relative humidity in the suit. New thermoregulating fabrics and fire-resistant materials are borrowed from the Falcon rocket's interstage space and the Dragon trunk.

The EVA space suit will fly for the first time on the Polar Dawn mission in a few months. The Dragon capsule has been modified so that the front hatch opens in space, and now the capsule can be safely depressurized and resealed.

At an altitude of 700 km, the two-hour spacewalk will involve two of the four Polaris Dawn crew members and will focus on testing the safety and practicality of the suits, as well as a special design equipped with handles and interfaces designed to facilitate exit and entry into the capsule.

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