Kent State University Museum installation explores spacesuit technology and design

Kent State University Museum will present a new installation titled Ohioans in Space: The Carl E. Walz Spacesuit from the Kent State University Museum at the Ohio Statehouse beginning May 19, highlighting the intersection of fashion, science and public history.

The exhibition centres on a spacesuit worn aboard the International Space Station by NASA astronaut Carl E. Walz, a graduate of Kent State University. Designed to counteract the physical effects of weightlessness, the garment uses elastic tension systems to simulate gravity and support muscle and bone strength during long-duration missions. Walz wore the suit during a six-month stay aboard the ISS between 2001 and 2002.

For fashion educators, the installation reflects the expanding role of dress and textile collections in interdisciplinary learning. According to museum director Sarah Spinner Liska, the exhibition demonstrates how garments can communicate broader narratives about innovation, history and cultural achievement.

The installation also positions fashion objects within a wider context of science and exploration. Alongside the spacesuit, visitors will view imagery from the James Webb Space Telescope provided by COSI, linking material culture with aerospace research and visual storytelling.

Organisers say the exhibition is intended to highlight Ohio’s historical connections to aviation and space exploration, referencing figures such as the Wright brothers and astronaut John Glenn. The project also reflects a broader trend among museums and universities toward cross-disciplinary collaboration that connects fashion, technology and public engagement.

The Kent State University Museum, which houses more than 30,000 objects spanning fashion, textiles and decorative arts, received reaccreditation from the American Alliance of Museums in 2025.