Under Armour Partners With Virgin Galactic
Sports apparel manufacture Under Armour has announced a partnership with Virgin Galactic to create a new generation of space apparel and footwear as well as an astronaut performance training program.
Under Armour will serve as the Technical Spacewear Partner of Virgin Galactic, part of Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Group.
As part of the agreement, Under Armour will design custom space suits and footwear for Virgin Galactic passengers and pilots, consisting of a complex blend of safety, utility, comfort and style.
To help astronauts prepare for the physical and profound experience of space travel, Under Armour is leveraging its athletic performance team to design programs for astronaut physical preparation and recovery with a focus on enhancing mobility, strength, fitness, nutrition, and sleep.
Under Armour is also providing uniforms for Virgin Galactic’s team at Spaceport America in New Mexico, including engineers, astronaut trainers, hosts, and mission control operatives, designed to meet the unique needs of each task.
Commenting on the partnership, Sir Richard Branson, Virgin Galactic Chairman said: “I have followed Under Armour’s progress through a personal friendship with its CEO, Kevin Plank and via the great relationships it has established over the years with various Virgin companies.
“I’ve loved its determination to push technical boundaries in order to improve performance, so could not have been more pleased when Kevin and his talented teams stepped up to the considerable task of creating a range of space apparel and performance programmes for Virgin Galactic.”
