Virgin Galactic has presented its combinations of …

The designers of US sports equipment manufacturer Under Armor, retained by Virgin Atlantic, "worked day and night for two years on this project," said Branson, who served as a model.

The 69-year-old British billionaire wore the navy blue suit to his name, which he plans to wear for the inaugural flight expected on an unspecified date in 2020.

"Space suits are part of the iconography of the beginnings of space conquest. In our view, manned spaceflight and what astronauts wear are inextricably linked (…) I like the aesthetics of these combinations. And I love even more the fact that the next time I put it, I'll be leaving for space, "said the one who launched Virgin Galactic in 2004.

Border of space crossed twice

According to Under Armor President Kevin Plank, the fibers of the suit, underwear and boots have been chosen to regulate body temperature and humidity. A transparent inner pocket has been added so that space-savvy adventurers can keep their loved ones' photographs "literally close to the heart". And the aesthetics was chosen to fit perfectly with that of the seats of the ship.

Each space tourist will have on his suit, which he can keep as a souvenir, the flag of his country and his name. Some 600 customers have already pre-registered for the first flights.

After years of development, delayed by a fatal accident in 2014, Virgin Galactic created a spaceship and crossed the border twice, but never again with paying customers on board.

Virgin Galactic plans to offer a few minutes of weightlessness to six passengers at a time, with the purchase of a ticket billed $ 250,000 to the first customers. They will float in the cabin and will see the curvature of the Earth, under a black sky, by large portholes.

These combinations were unveiled in the wake of NASA's presentation of prototypes of suits, meant to bring more fluidity to the "real" American astronauts, who must return to the Moon in 2024.