A Spacesuit With No Ship

Image credit: Decathlon/ CNES / Spartan Space / MEDES / European Spaceflight

On Friday, Decathlon revealed a first look at EuroSuit, an intra-vehicular activity (IVA) spacesuit developed in collaboration with Spartan Space and the Institute of Space Medicine and Physiology (MEDES) as part of a CNES-funded initiative. The question sparked most often about the programme was what vehicle the spacesuit would ultimately be used in, a question that, intentionally or not, highlights the broader reality of Europe’s current human-spaceflight landscape. As Europe approaches a key European Space Agency Ministerial Council meeting later this month, during which human spaceflight will almost certainly be on the agenda, it is worth examining the current landscape of crewed-launch capabilities and where Europe’s ambitions realistically stand within it.

Cost Analysis

Developing a crew launch system is, unsurprisingly, an exceedingly costly endeavour, typically requiring billions in upfront investment. …