N.A.S.A. space battlesuit costume

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fig. 1: Closeup of helmet

N.A.S.A. Space battlesuit costume
Costume design

The concept for this costume started with a question: What if around 1962, during the height of the cold war, the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R. decided to duke it out in space? How would a hypothetical space suit designed for combat look? The resulting suit drew inspiration from both the Apollo era suits with their iconic white covering, and the more military looking predecessors utilised during the Mercury era, all the while mainting a certain cartoonish and exaggerated look befitting a halloween costume.

Fig. 2: Full body shot of suit, front

Fig. 3: Full body shot of suit, back

Details and accessories

Detaling the suit, and weathering both the suit and the accessories, was an important step to make the suit look more realistic and less "fresh". It had to look lived in, like it actually had seen combat in space.

Fig. 4: Closeup of N.A.S.A. emblem and the American flag

Fig. 5: Closeup of control panel

Fig. 6: Frontpack and fragmentation grenades

Fig. 7: Light panel and connection points

Fig. 8: N.A.S.A. machine gun

Sketches

Having a concept sketch during the constructiuon phase was a great advantage, as it provided a clear art direction. These sketches also provided the basis for the sewing patterns that had to be constructed.