Elon Musk wants to create ‘superhero astronauts’: SpaceX hires Marvel costume designer to make a spacesuit for Mars

  • The billionaire recently hired California-based designer Jose Fernandez
  • Fernandez created costumes in films such as ‘Captain America: Civil War’
  • The suit, designed to be 'stylish' and 'heroic', will be unveiled next year

By ELLIE ZOLFAGHARIFARD FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Published: | Updated:

Mars astronauts could look more like superheroes - at least, that’s if Elon Musk gets his way.

The billionaire recently hired Marvel and DC movie legend Jose Fernandez to design a spacesuit for his firm, SpaceX.

Fernandez is better known for designing costumes for superheroes in films such as ‘Batman vs. Superman’ and ‘Captain America: Civil War’.

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Elon Musk has hired Jose Fernandez to design a spacesuit for his firm, SpaceX. Fernandez is better known for designing costumes for superheroes in films such ¿Captain America: Civil War¿. Fernandez took inspiration from Musk himself, when creating the costume for Iron Man, as Tony Stark is modeled on the billionaire

Elon Musk has hired Jose Fernandez to design a spacesuit for his firm, SpaceX. Fernandez is better known for designing costumes for superheroes in films such ‘Captain America: Civil War’. Fernandez took inspiration from Musk himself, when creating the costume for Iron Man, as Tony Stark is modeled on the billionaire

Fernandez took inspiration from Musk himself, when creating the costume for Iron Man, as Tony Stark is modeled on the billionaire. 

A Tested video and a Bleep interview recently revealed the Fernandez is designing a ‘stylish’ and ‘heroic’ alternative to Nasa’s Z-2, spacesuit design.

Engadget reports that we are unlikely to see the suit until sometime in the next year. However there are

SpaceX and Fernandez’ California-based design studio, Ironhead, have yet to respond to Dailymail.com request for more details on the suit.

Apart from looking heroic, the spacesuit will also have to undergo tests in extreme environments.

Spacewalking astronauts face a wide variety of temperatures.

Jose Fernandez (top center) is the creative lead behind California-based design studio Ironhead

Jose Fernandez (top center) is the creative lead behind California-based design studio Ironhead

Fernandez has created the costumes for ¿Batman vs. Superman. As part of his new project to design spacesuits, he has revealed that he will aim to create something ¿stylish¿ and ¿heroic¿

Fernandez has created the costumes for ‘Batman vs. Superman. As part of his new project to design spacesuits, he has revealed that he will aim to create something ‘stylish’ and ‘heroic’

SPACESUITS WORN TODAY

The main spacesuits worn for spacewalks are called Extravehicular Mobility Unit, or EMU.

But astronauts have a range of other suits they wear for different activities.

The Advanced Crew Escape Suit is the orange suit that astronauts wear during launch and landing of the space shuttle. 

This suit cannot be worn during spacewalks. 

Sometimes, Nasa astronauts will wear the Russian Orlan spacesuit. 

This suit is the Russian version of the EMU and is used for spacewalks.

Another Russian suit is the Sokol. Like the Advanced Crew Escape Suit, the Sokol is designed only to be used inside a spacecraft. 

It is used on the Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

In Earth orbit, conditions can be as cold as minus 250 degrees Fahrenheit. In the sunlight, they can be as hot as 250 degrees

Musk may have some stiff competition from Nasa when it comes to the suits design.

Last year, Nasa confirmed that it plans to send the first astronauts to Mars wearing a radical new 'Tron' spacesuit.

3D printed for each astronaut, the new suit, called Z-2, will allow astronauts to walk on the Martian surface far more easily.

Unlike the figure hugging suit worn by Matt Damon in the hit film the Martian, it will allow astronauts to exit through the suit's rear - without having to go into an airlock.

A recent update to the Tron-inspired Z-2 design sports red electroluminescent details for better visibility in darkness.

'The Z-2 suit is a technology demonstrator for a planetary surface suit; the suit is designed for maximum astronaut productivity on a planetary surface – exploring, collecting samples, and manoeuvring in and out of habitats and rovers,’ Nasa said.

SpaceX expected to carry its first astronauts to the International Space Station in 2017 or 2018 and to Mars in 2025.

Nasa is aiming for a human mission to Mars in the 2030s.

Musk may have some stiff competition from Nasa when it comes to the suits design. Last year, Nasa confirmed that it plans to send the first astronauts to Mars wearing a radical new 'Tron' spacesuit. 3D printed for each astronaut, the new suit, called Z-2, will allow astronauts to walk on the Martian surface far more easily
Musk may have some stiff competition from Nasa when it comes to the suits design. Last year, Nasa confirmed that it plans to send the first astronauts to Mars wearing a radical new 'Tron' spacesuit. 3D printed for each astronaut, the new suit, called Z-2, will allow astronauts to walk on the Martian surface far more easily

Musk may have some stiff competition from Nasa when it comes to the suits design. Last year, Nasa confirmed that it plans to send the first astronauts to Mars wearing a radical new 'Tron' spacesuit. 3D printed for each astronaut, the new suit, called Z-2, will allow astronauts to walk on the Martian surface far more easily

Elon Musk (pictured) is hoping SpaceX will carry its first astronauts to the International Space Station in 2017 or 2018 and to Mars in 2025. Nasa is aiming for a human mission to Mars in the 2030s

Elon Musk (pictured) is hoping SpaceX will carry its first astronauts to the International Space Station in 2017 or 2018 and to Mars in 2025. Nasa is aiming for a human mission to Mars in the 2030s

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