Local Company Suits Up Space Tourists

LOS ANGELES -- The age of space tourism --private space travel -- is not that far off. But what do you wear for the ride?

NBC 4's Jennifer Bjorklund reported on a local company that is designing space suits for the well-heeled traveler that are not only functional, but cool.

Following is a verbatim script from the on-air report

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Rick Tumlinson, President, Orbital Outfitters: By the end of this year, the beginning of the next, the first rocket's going to fly.

Jennifer Bjorklund, NBC4 News: You once had to be an astronaut to experience this -- the view from outer space.

But more than a dozen private companies are developing rockets that will soon give private travelers a shot at the stars - or at least statosphere.

Virgin Galactic will launch its first cosmic cruise in early 2009. The cost of a two-hour ride is $200,000.

Tumlinson: It's going to shock people because so many people are doing it.

Bjorklund: And they're going to be doing it in style, if one local company has anything to say about it.

Orbital Outfitters is an aerospace start-up that brings together hollywood special effects artists and former NASA experts to create space suits for your average space tourist.

Chief designer Chris Gilman spent 30 years designing movie space suits, such as one for "Astronaut Farmer."

Now, he has a bigger challenge.

Chris Gilman, Chief Designer, Orbital Outfitters: Obviously, it has to be first and foremost functional, safe and reliable.

It's an emergency suit ... sort of like an air bag in your car, you hope you never see it.

Bjorklund: Conventional space suits are designed for extended missions, but the suits Gilman is creating only have operate a short while to supply pressurization in case of an emergency -- to put five to seven pounds of oxygen around your body to keep you alive until help arrives.

Tumlinson: If the window cracks in the space ship it has to come on instantly ... you have to be able to pull the helmet down and let it save your life.

Bjorklund: These are exact replicas of what NASA uses. They're kind of bulky. Global Outfitters' suits will have the same technology on the inside, but on the outside, they'll look cool.

Tumlinson: Think of Armani meets automotive design.

Bjorklund: How much will this sleek little ensemble cost? It's considerably less than the $14 million NASA pays for these space-walk suits. A target price of under $100,000. and in most cases, the suits will be leased --not bought.

Tumlinson: You just have to show up, put it on or in the case of a rocket company, call us, we show up, we dress the people. We make sure we handle all of the customers needs.

Bjorklund: Rick Tumlinson describes his company as "Hollywood meets space." It already has a contract with one Mojave-based aerospace firm.