A space garment designed to allow astronauts to evacuate their spacecraft in the event of an emergency. High-altitude operation suits were worn by the crews of NASA's first four space shuttle launches (April 1981–June 1982). This protection was discontinued from the 5th to the 25th flight, but the Challenger accident in 1986 prompted the adoption of a new design of launch/entry suits, which can be used for high-altitude bail-outs.

The bright orange one-piece suit has an oxygen supply, parachute, life raft, life jacket, and additional survival equipment. It can be inflated with air to create thermal protection, and has special pressure at the legs to provide anti-g protection against the effects of high acceleration.