posted 01-24-2019 11:58 AM               

Virgin Galactic Unveils Under Armour As Exclusive Partner To Create Next Generation Spacewear and Astronaut Performance Program

Virgin Galactic is proud to announce Under Armour as its Exclusive Technical Spacewear Partner to create a next generation of spacewear and astronaut performance programs.

This exciting and exclusive collaboration brings together Virgin Galactic's mission to make commercial space travel a reality, with Under Armour's expertise in technical apparel and footwear, ensuring that astronaut customers and staff are fully equipped to maximise personal performance in a new age of space exploration.

The US brand, famed for performance through technical innovation, is designing and fabricating space suits for Virgin Galactic passengers and pilots, representing a unique commission that demanded personal performance enhancement through a complex blend of safety, utility, comfort and style.

The partnership will also see Under Armour create uniforms for Virgin Galactic's world-class team at Spaceport America in New Mexico. Whether engineers, astronaut trainers and hosts, or mission control operatives, each member of the Virgin Galactic team will be wearing Under Armour apparel specifically chosen to enhance performance and to provide a tangible sense of shared purpose.

As Under Armour crafts the Virgin Galactic collection, it draws inspiration from its strong heritage of innovative performance solutions for some of the world's top athletes. Under Armour will mimic the holistic approach it takes with those individuals and in addition to apparel will design programs for astronaut physical preparation and recovery with a focus on enhancing mobility, strength, fitness, nutrition, and sleep.

Flying to space will be a profound experience for Virgin Galactic astronauts. After a thrilling high acceleration, rocket-powered, vertical ascent in SpaceShipTwo at more than three times the speed of sound, passengers will be able to leave their seats and experience the freedom of weightlessness while marvelling at spectacular, life changing views of planet Earth from the black sky of space. The custom-fitted Under Armour spacesuits will inspire confidence through comfort and practicality without compromising the natural desire of every Virgin Galactic astronaut both to feel good and look good during this unparalleled life experience.

The full range of apparel and footwear is set to be revealed later this year, ahead of Richard Branson's inaugural commercial flight.

Commenting on the Under Armour partnership, Richard Branson said: "I have followed Under Armour's progress through a personal friendship with its CEO, Kevin Plank and via the great relationships it has established over the years with various Virgin companies. I've loved its determination to push technical boundaries in order to improve performance, so could not have been more pleased when Kevin and his talented teams stepped up to the considerable task of creating a range of space apparel and performance programs for Virgin Galactic. Our partnership is built on the firm foundations of shared values and it will be an absolute privilege to wear an Under Armour astronaut space suit on Virgin Galactic's inaugural commercial space flight."

Kevin Plank, CEO, Under Armour said, "Working with Sir Richard and Virgin Galactic is an opportunity of a lifetime, one that has the entire Under Armour team across the world excited. This is a great opportunity to test our innovation at the highest level and continue to push the limits of human performance."

posted 10-16-2019 02:46 PM               

Virgin Galactic Partners with Under Armour to Unveil the World's First Exclusive Spacewear System for Private Astronauts

In January 2019, Virgin Galactic Founder Sir Richard Branson and Under Armour CEO and Founder Kevin Plank announced a collaboration which saw Under Armour become Virgin Galactic's Technical Spacewear Partner. Today, the companies unveiled the collaboratively designed spacewear system for Virgin Galactic astronauts comprising of a base layer, spacesuit, footwear, training suit and Limited Edition astronaut jacket. It is the first such collection ever created specifically for private astronauts.

The design of astronaut apparel is a unique combination of the requirement for comfort and utility matched by the ultimate focus on customer experience. Every element of the Virgin Galactic customer journey is designed to enrich the profound and transformative qualities of the human spaceflight experience. For Virgin Galactic Future Astronauts, that life-changing, personal experience is eagerly anticipated and the newly unveiled spacewear has been specifically designed to support it.

"Virgin Galactic gave us an exciting challenge to build the world's first commercial spacesuit," said Kevin Plank. "Innovation is at the core of everything we do and our team delivered a unique twist on the classic spacesuit utilizing both existing and new UA technologies to define space gear for the future. It is an incredible opportunity to showcase our key performance innovations in space at the highest level and continue to push the limits of human performance."

From the initial brief through to final fabrication, the suit design concepts were defined through inputs from a wide variety of experts, including doctors, astronaut trainers, pilots, apparel and footwear designers, engineers and Future Astronaut customers, to fully understand and address all requirements.

Safety is Virgin Galactic's North Star and underlined the choice of materials and other key design considerations. The spacesuit is made from lightweight flight-grade fabrics, with cushioning in elbows, knees and in the footwear, to provide safety in out-of-seat zero gravity. The spacesuits are complemented by training suits which will help to optimize the effectiveness of astronaut preparation in the days immediately before spaceflight. The spacewear materials have been rigorously tested in laboratory conditions which match the measured environment at all stages of spaceflight. The system will also be worn by Virgin Galactic Mission Specialists on board VSS Unity's crewed test spaceflights, prior to commercial flights which are currently expected to commence in 2020.

Spacesuits will be personally tailored for each astronaut; a great fit combined with bold and progressive aesthetics provide the first visible evidence of a journey of transformation, inspiring self-confidence and self-assuredness. While immediately identifying wearers as astronauts and as part of a mission, the spacesuits also provide differentiated features that recognize and celebrate each astronaut's personal journey. Country flags and name badges build on traditions of the past, while suit pockets dedicated to personal effects include an inside transparent pocket for photographs of loved ones, who will literally be close to the heart.

Comfort has always been fundamental to Under Armour's approach to performance enhancement and the new spacewear system follows this mantra, informing fabric choice, structure and fit. Temperature management, for example, is regulated by performance fibers and knit density, mapped to the body to provide perfect warmth and moisture management, while preventing overheating or chilling. Great care has also been taken to ensure the spacewear design is fully woven into cabin design, in particular with the spaceship's seats where integration with harnesses and seat contours ensures comfort, particularly during the high G portions of flight.

The unveil event in New York showcased the spacewear system on a zero gravity, vertical catwalk, led by Sir Richard Branson in the spacesuit he will wear on Virgin Galactic's inaugural commercial spaceflight.

Richard Branson said: "Spacesuits are a part of the iconography of the first space age; our visual impressions of human spaceflight and what astronauts wear are inextricably linked. Requirements for astronaut spacewear as we enter the second space age are evolving, but the design challenge has not diminished. We were delighted when Kevin and Under Armour stepped up to this task and they have surpassed our expectations. I love the way the spacewear looks and I love the way it feels. I also love the fact that the next time I put it on, I will be on my way to space."

posted 12-04-2020 09:04 AM               

Virgin Galactic Partners with Under Armour to Unveil the Spacesuits for the World's First Commercial Spaceflight Pilot Corps

Virgin Galactic today (Dec. 4) unveiled the spacesuits its pilots will wear as they fly private astronauts on life changing journeys to space.

Designed in collaboration with the company's Technical Spacewear Partner, Under Armour, the Virgin Galactic Pilot Corps will wear the spacesuit and footwear on future flights - including the first human spaceflight from New Mexico, which is due to take place this month with the flight window opening on December 11.

Wearing the spacesuit on the December flight will be Chief Pilot, Dave Mackay and Pilot, CJ Sturckow – who is expected to become the first person to fly to space from three different U.S States. They are both members of the eight person team in the Virgin Galactic Pilot Corps.

This design is the latest addition to the astronaut apparel created with Under Armour, which also includes the Spacewear System that Virgin Galactic Future Astronaut customers will wear for their spaceflights.

For the pilots' suits, the design team followed a brief to create a non-pressurised spacesuit which not only aesthetically conveys the pilots' role in Virgin Galactic's mission, but which also practically supports their unique task of flying regularly at over three times the speed of sound into space and back.

Due to these unique requirements, each member of the Pilot Corps was heavily involved in the design process, providing feedback and wearing test versions of the spacesuit while completing various assignments.

Randall Harward, Under Armour's SVP of Material and Manufacturing Innovation said: "A pilot's flight suit has been refined over the decades to embody a certain undeniable look and function, but they also have to perform beyond expectations. We took that as a starting point and built in all of the Under Armour solutions we've developed for comfort, support, movement and temperature management. Our goal was to build a suit that leaves a pilot - like any athlete - feeling confident and with zero distractions during a critical moment of performance. It's been a fascinating journey."

When it came to choosing the most suitable materials for the pilot spacesuit, safety and comfort were the key criteria. The spacesuit is lightweight at just over 1kg, but consists of flight-grade fabrics that ensure it is robust and strong. The suit is optimized for comfort in all stages of flight whether that be during boost, when the forces press the pilots backwards into their seats, or in zero gravity where cushioning on the shoulders provides comfort as pilots are held in positions by seat straps. The knitted fabrics which form the spacesuit also help to regulate body temperature whether outside in the New Mexico sunshine or during the various phases of flight.

Virgin Galactic's pilots and Future Astronaut customers will form a unique crew on each spaceflight, but it was important to make the pilot spacesuits distinguishable from the Spacewear System created for Future Astronauts, highlighting their different roles during spaceflight.

A common color palette accentuates the fact that pilots and customers are all part of one crew. But the addition of black within the pilot spacesuits, sets the pilots a little apart and is a reminder that the destination of each flight is the black sky of space. The pilot spacesuits also include the Virgin Galactic pilot wings emblem, which captures the spirit and essence of flight and represents the elegance, speed and dynamism of a Virgin Galactic spaceflight.

Each spacesuit is personally tailored for the pilot to ensure an optimum fit and comfort. The front of the spacesuit features the pilot's embroidered name and a placement for their commercial astronaut wings. These features are a reminder of each pilot's personal journey; from the dream of flight to membership of a unique corps of professional space pilots.

Dave Mackay, Virgin Galactic Chief Pilot said: "It's a real honor for all of us in the Virgin Galactic Pilot Corps to wear these spacesuits. The thoughtfulness of the design ensures the suits are not only comfortable and practical, but also bespoke to each pilot. As soon as you step into the suit, you immediately get a sense of the significance of our mission. I'm very much looking forward to wearing my own spacesuit during New Mexico's first human spaceflight later this month and then many times in the future as we share the wonder of space with our Future Astronauts."