Spacesuit design: Flavio Gentile

One of five winning designs selected by ESA’s Space Suit Design Competition that collected ideas from the general public on what a future European extra-vehicular activity (EVA) suit could look like. This design was made by Flavio Gentile.

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

Flavio explains: “The colour of the base suit remains white to improve the reflection of solar and UV rays, but there are some blue details that reflect the colour of the European community flag. The suit has a slim and captivating design, with chrome bands and fabric details in line with the ideals of Italian and French fashion.”

Flavio also describes technical details: “In this project, various systems have been designed to improve the mobility of the astronaut in planetary activities by eliminating joints and bearings to lighten the suit as much as possible. The layers of the suit are designed to protect the astronaut and at the same time ensure lightness and mobility of the astronaut; in total there are four or five layers instead of seven. Materials suitable for the surface and atmosphere of Mars were considered.

"The helmet is designed to have wide visibility and a voice system to interact with the commands of the suit itself. The helmet and life support backpack are attached to facilitate lifting from the ground in the event of a fall.”

You can find Flavio on LinkedIn.