// ESA-002 · Europe / ESA

EuroSuit IVA Prototype

Spartan Space + MEDES + Decathlon · 2024–present
IVA Active prototype — ISS tested 2026

Technical Specifications

PressureTBD
Suit mass (1g)TBD
Life support (primary)Vehicle-supported — spacecraft interfaces
Life support (backup)Emergency oxygen
EVA durationN/A
ProgramCNES / ESA εpsilon
AgencyCNES + ESA
ManufacturerSpartan Space + MEDES + Decathlon
First use2026
StatusActive prototype — ISS tested 2026
Donning / entryAutonomous don/doff target under 2 minutes; ergonomic design with commercial manufacturing

Engineering Analysis

Key Subsystem Architecture

Biomonitoring integration; rapid autonomous donning; human factors; Decathlon textile expertise; MEDES medical research; tested by Sophie Adenot on ISS during εpsilon 2026

Mission Role

Launch, landing and emergency alert phases — IVA crew safety

Limitations & Failures

Prototype not yet certified operational; not EVA-capable; full qualification path not yet public

Program Lesson
"Non-traditional partners — sports equipment manufacturers, medical research institutes — can enter human spaceflight hardware through IVA rather than EVA"
Future Relevance

The active European wedge into crewed spaceflight hardware. Biomonitoring, rapid donning and human factors are the European competitive advantage

// Related Suits

Same Program Family

ESA-001 EVA

EVA Suit 2000

ESA + Russian Space Agency · European industry + Russian heritage
1992–1995
Pressure
TBD
System mass
TBD
Life support
Self-contained EVA life support concept
EVA duration
N/A

"Europe proved the rear-entry rapid-donning concept works — but without a funded anchor mission the architecture never matured"

View Full Archive →