Authentic Space suits - NASA
Anna Kendrick wearing Global Effects’ EMU in “Stowaway.” (Netflix)
Authentic Spacesuits
From Wiley Post’s 1930s high-altitude experiments to the cutting edge of modern “Commercial Space,” Global Effects / Peris Costumes houses the definitive collection of historic and cinematic pressure suits.
Whether you need the iconic “Silver Suit” of the Mercury era or the bulky Apollo-style “NASA Spacesuit,” our inventory spans the entire history of US and Soviet development. We don’t just build replicas; our founder and president has designed and manufactured functional suits for NASA, SpaceX, and XCOR.
We offer two distinct categories for your production:
Historic Replicas: Precise, era-appropriate suits for documentaries and period dramas.
Sci-Fi Originals: High-concept designs for when you need a look that’s out of this world.
Leverage our technical expertise to ensure your production captures the right look and functional “feel” of authentic spaceflight.
Our rental inventory is now handled by Peris Costumes with locations around the world, so for all practical and financial production purposes…
We are next door!
We can invoice from any office in the network.
For rentals, please call (+34) 913071220 and ask for the Global rental inventory manager. You can email us at globaleffects@periscostumes.com.
Explore all we have to offer, you never know what it might inspire.
Fidelity & Sizes
Many of our historic suits come in three different levels of fidelity, or grades, based on detail and materials used.
- A-Grade (Premier): Our most accurate suits, crafted with authentic fabrics and precision-machined metal fittings for the ultimate realism.
- B-Grade (Standard): A high-detail alternative featuring simplified construction, high-quality substitute fabrics, and durable plastic fittings at a balanced price point.
- C-Grade (Economy): Our most accessible option, offering superior quality over standard costumes while remaining our most budget-friendly choice.
Size: Most of our spacesuits are designed to fit someone in the 1.7m – 1.8m (5’9″ – 6′) and an athletic build. Due to the thickness of the suits, traditional hemming of sleeves and pants will not work, so if a performer is too small, the suit will be too big, which will limit mobility. On the other end of the spectrum, a performer too tall or large, will not fit at all, and there is no easy way to enlarge the suits.
We do have some suits that are extra small, and some that will accommodate up to 1.9m (6’3″)
Please contact us for details
NASA Spacesuits
EMU
Current Spacewalk suit 1983- Present
This is known as the EMU or Extravehicular Mobility Unit. First Flown on the Space Shuttle in 1983 and it is still used today on the International Space Station (ISS) We can configure this suit to match early missions or current, and we also have the style used in the NBL or Neutral Buoyancy Lab for astronaut training. We also have a suit that has been scaled down to fit smaller actors. Known as our 90% suit, this offers a better fit for performers who are in the 1.5m – 1.6 m (5′ – 5’6″)
EMU – LCVG (Liquid Cooling / Ventilation Garment)
The astronaut wear this garment under the EMU spacewalk suit, which provide liquid cooling with clear rubber tubes, and provide ventilation to the hands and feet. The LCVR is only needed if you want to see the astronaut getting dressed on camera, as this is an accurate copy of what is worn.
While this replica is non-functional, we do offer functional cool suits as a separate rental item.
OCSS
Current IVA suit (inside the spacecraft) 2025 – Present
This is known as the OCSS Orion Crew Safety System. This currently is unavailable as an off the rack rental, but we can custom manufacture this suit for rental. (Please contact Peris Costumes or Global Effects for a cost estimate)
But, we do have in stock, an earlier suit, which look very close to the OCSS suit, and that is the ACES suit (see below)
ACES
Shuttle IVA suit (inside the spacecraft) 1994 – 2011
This is known as the ACES Advanced Crew Escape System (NASA likes their acronyms!).
The ACES suit was a replacement suit after the Space Shuttle Challenger accident.
We offer this in an A-grade & B-grade version
LES
Shuttle IVA suit (inside the spacecraft) 1982 – 1986
The LES suit, was not really a “Spacesuit” or even a type of pressure suit. It was a jacket and pants, with a parachute harness. The helmet was originally a Navy pilot helmet, adapted to the task. Known as an HGU20, or “Clamshell” helmet. These were used on Space Shuttle missions until the Space Shuttle Challenger accident.
We currently have only B-Grade versions available (photos are of a real suit we have in our reference collection.)
S1030A
Shuttle Ejection Escape Suit 1981 – 1982
The S1030A was a high altitude pilot full pressure suit, used in the SR71 and U2 spay planes. Adapted to the first 4 flights of the Space Shuttle (STS-1 to STS-4)
Apollo A7Lb
Apollo A7Lb (EVA or Moon walk configuration) 1971 – 1974
The A7Lb was a variant on the first Apollo moon suit. The design was modified to improve waist mobility, for use on Apollo 15-17, to allow the astronauts to sit in the Lunar rover (LRV)
It continued being used (with slight alterations) on the three Skylab missions.
Apollo A7L
Apollo A7L (LEVA or Moon walk configuration) 1968 – 1970
The A7L was the first (and only) moon suit to used. The A7L had 3 functions, first as an IVA suit for use during launch and landing, a moon walk suit, with the addition of a life support back pack , know as the PLSS, a chest box (RCU) overshoes, over gloves, and a LEVA helmet, that was basically a giant full head sunglasses.
This suit was used from Apollo 7 (although in the IVA version) to Apollo 14.
A7L : LEVA A-grade
Apollo A7L (IVA or Launch / Entry configuration) 1968 – 1970
The A7L was the first (and only) moon suit to used. The A7L had 3 functions, first as an IVA suit for use during launch and landing, a moon walk suit, with the addition of a life support back pack , know as the PLSS, a chest box (RCU) overshoes, over gloves, and a LEVA helmet, that was basically a giant full head sunglasses.
This suit was used from Apollo 7 (although in the IVA version) to Apollo 14.
Apollo One
Apollo A1C 1967
The A1C was a modified Gemini spacesuit (see below) and was never flown in space. The tragic fire, during a launch pad test took the lives of the 3 astronauts. The only visible difference between the Gemini suit (G4C) and the Apollo one suit, was the addition of a ribbed shell on top of the helmet, to protect the visor when open.
Gemini
Gemini G4C 1966
The G4C was a later variant on earlier Gemini suits, the first of which were silver, like the Mercury suits before.
The fittings shown, are machined aluminum anodized to the correct colors. This level of finish is typical, on our A-grade suits
Mercury
Mercury 1961 – 1963
The Mercury space suits are the iconic “Silver spacesuits” we are often asked for.
The ventilation garment in the last photo below, is only needed if you want to see the astronaut getting dressed on camera, as this is an accurate copy of what was worn.
Interestingly, the silver color was used, because early spacesuit concepts from the 1950’s depicted suits in this silver finish, and when the actual suits were made, the NASA public affairs office requested the suits be silver, since this is what the public expected. This was kept even on the early Gemini suits, but then dropped in favor of a more practical white color.
C/ Río Duero, 1 Naves: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 y 6 28119 Algete, Madrid (Spain) Tel: (+34) 913071220
Global Effects Inc.
12424½ Gladstone Avenue
Sylmar, CA 91342
Tel: (818) 503-9273
Fax: (818) 503-9459
Custom Manufacture
Chris Gilman, president
chris@globaleffects.com
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globaleffects@periscostumes.com
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info@globaleffects.com
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