SpaceX Unveils EVA Spacesuit for Upcoming Private Spacewalk

Updated: May 08 2024 07:29

In a significant step towards advancing human spaceflight capabilities, SpaceX has unveiled its highly anticipated Extravehicular Activity (EVA) spacesuit. This cutting-edge suit is set to make its debut during the upcoming Polaris Dawn mission, scheduled for launch no earlier than summer 2024. The mission, part of the Polaris Program announced by billionaire businessman Jared Isaacman and SpaceX in February 2022, aims to push the boundaries of human spaceflight while supporting important causes on Earth. Isaacman said during an online chat hosted by X:

Our first objective is to travel farther from the Earth and the last time humans walked on the Moon with Apollo 17, more than 50 years ago. So we target an apogee of 1,400 kilometers. That puts us just inside the Van Allen radiation belt. It's an awesome opportunity for us to get some data, but really it's about pushing beyond our comfort zone.

The Polaris Dawn mission will mark several historic milestones, including SpaceX's first-ever EVA from the Dragon spacecraft and the first commercial astronaut spacewalk. Additionally, it will be the first time four astronauts are simultaneously exposed to the vacuum of space. The newly-developed EVA suit will play a crucial role in supporting the crew throughout this groundbreaking spacewalk.


Polaris Dawn will be commanded by Inspiration4 Commander Jared Isaacman. He will be joined by Mission Pilot Scott “Kidd” Poteet, Mission Specialist and Medical Officer Anna Menon, and Mission Specialist Sarah Gillis. Building upon the Inspiration4 mission, Polaris Dawn will continue to raise funds and awareness for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

SpaceX’s Falcon 9 rocket will launch the Polaris Dawn mission in the Dragon Capsule from NASA Kennedy Space Center’s historic Launch Complex 39A in Cape Canaveral, FL. Dragon and the Polaris Dawn crew will spend up to five days in orbit, flying higher than any Dragon mission and endeavoring to reach the highest Earth orbit ever flown.

While in orbit, the crew will attempt the first-ever commercial spacewalk with SpaceX-designed extravehicular (EVA) spacesuits.



Building upon the design of the Intravehicular Activity (IVA) suit currently worn by crews aboard Dragon human spaceflight missions, the EVA suit incorporates a range of innovative features and enhancements. SpaceX teams have focused on improving mobility, utilizing new materials, fabrication processes, and novel joint designs to provide astronauts with greater flexibility in pressurized scenarios while maintaining comfort in unpressurized situations.

One of the most striking features of the EVA suit is its 3D-printed helmet, which includes a new visor designed to reduce glare during the spacewalk. The helmet also incorporates a state-of-the-art Heads-Up Display (HUD) and camera, providing the crew with real-time information on the suit's pressure, temperature, and relative humidity. These advancements not only enhance the astronauts' situational awareness but also contribute to their overall safety and well-being.


These sleek suits have a 3D-printed polycarbonate helmet and visors coated with copper and indium tin oxide, which prevent glare and fogging. A HUD inside the helmet provides real-time data on pressure, temperature, and humidity. Most of the suit control is automatic, but there's a dial to control oxygen levels, which is piped in via the Dragon umbilical.


The suits use a flame-resistant material and a spiral zipper design for added strength. The boots are composed of the same material SpaceX uses in the Dragon capsule's trunk and Falcon 9 rocket's interstage. The combination can survive a wide range of temperatures and pressures. They can also be scaled up and down to accommodate various body sizes.


The suit will be pressurized to 5.1 PSI, a bit higher than the 4 PSI used in NASA EMU suits. NASA's suits have rigid rotator joints, which help astronauts move their limbs without fighting against the pressurization, but they're essentially useless when unpressurized. SpaceX says the new suit uses semi-rigid rotator joints that are much more compact than the EMU's, and they should be equally usable in both pressurized and non-pressurized states. That will be important because all four members of the Polaris Dawn crew will wear them throughout the five-day mission.



To ensure the suit remains pressurized and the crew remains safe during the spacewalk, SpaceX has implemented various enhancements for reliability and redundancy. These include additional seals and pressure valves, demonstrating the company's commitment to the safety and success of the mission.
Perhaps one of the most exciting aspects of the EVA suit is its scalable design.

SpaceX has developed the suit with the goal of accommodating different body types, promoting greater accessibility to space for all of humanity. This scalability will be crucial as the company works towards its ultimate goal of establishing a base on the Moon and a city on Mars, which will require millions of spacesuits to support life in these extraterrestrial environments.


During spaceflight, the body undergoes significant changes. To monitor the health of the crew, TRISH will conduct important human health research before, during and after the mission, fulfilling one of the mission’s goals. The Polaris Dawn TRISH-sponsored scientific research designed to advance both human health on Earth and our understanding of human health during future long-duration spaceflights.



The upcoming Polaris Dawn mission and the debut of the SpaceX EVA suit represent a significant leap forward in the realm of human spaceflight. As the company continues to push the boundaries of what is possible, it is clear that the development of advanced spacesuits will play a vital role in the future of space exploration. With the EVA suit's innovative design and scalable features, SpaceX is paving the way for a new era of accessibility and discovery in the final frontier.

As we eagerly await the launch of the Polaris Dawn mission, the unveiling of the SpaceX EVA suit serves as a reminder of the incredible progress being made in the field of human spaceflight. The suit's groundbreaking features and the mission's ambitious goals are a testament to the ingenuity and determination of the SpaceX team, and they offer a glimpse into the exciting future that lies ahead for space exploration, paving the road to making humanity multiplanetary.