The French sporting goods brand Decathlon has designed Eurosuit, an intra-vehicular space suit set to be tested aboard the International Space Station in 2026. The prototype aims to combine comfort, flexibility, and safety for astronauts during orbital missions.

Decathlon is venturing into aerospace with Eurosuit, a prototype intra-vehicular space suit developed with space agencies and research partners. The suit is designed for astronauts working inside the International Space Station (ISS), prioritising mobility and comfort during long-duration missions.

Unlike bulky extra-vehicular suits used for spacewalks, Eurosuit focuses on flexibility and ergonomic design. It incorporates breathable fabrics, advanced thermal regulation, and modular components inspired by sportswear technology. The Eurosuit can be put on or removed in under two minutes, completely autonomously. According to Decathlon, this is a first in the space industry, addressing a dual challenge: improving operational responsiveness and ensuring astronaut safety in emergencies.

The prototype incorporates several advancements:

  • Custom-fit ergonomics: a lattice-structured helmet design allows for perfectly tailored fits to each astronaut’s morphology.
  • Freedom of movement: bellows integrated at the shoulders, elbows, and knees ensure maximum mobility in confined environments.
  • Sealed, user-friendly zippers: airtight zippers with ergonomic pullers facilitate easy opening and closing of the suit.

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A collaboration between industry, research, and sports technology

The Eurosuit project brings together multiple partners:

  • CNES (Centre National d’Études Spatiales, the French National Centre for Space Studies) coordinates the project, ensuring alignment with European objectives and compliance with technical and regulatory milestones.
  • Spartan Space, a start-up specializing in solutions for human intervention in extreme environments, is the prime contractor. It manages the technical architecture and develops the life support system.
  • MEDES, the Institute of Space Medicine and Physiology, works on an onboard biomonitoring system to track the astronaut’s physiological parameters in real time.
  • Decathlon, through its Advanced Innovation division, designs the Eurosuit’s textile and ergonomic solutions, demonstrating its ability to transfer sports innovation expertise into the extreme environment of human spaceflight.

The suit will undergo its first orbital test in 2026. Aboard the ISS, astronaut Sophie Adenot will validate the suit’s ergonomics in microgravity by performing test sequences: donning, manipulating small objects, interacting with the onboard touchscreen tablet, and doffing the suit.

Decathlon in aerospace?

New market, scientific project, or remarkable PR stunt? You decide. We will keep watching.