---
title: "Photo Shows Iron Man-Style Suit at SpaceX Launch Site"
description: "Onlookers spotted something rather strange being transported on the back of a pickup truck at SpaceX's \"Starbase\" testing facilities in South Texas."
date: "2021-10-15"
modified: "2021-10-15"
authors:
  - name: "Victor Tangermann"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/mysterious-robot-suit-spacex"
categories:
  - "Space"
  - "SpaceX"
tags:
  - "elon musk"
  - "robots"
  - "SpaceX"
  - "the digest"
---

# Photo Shows Iron Man-Style Suit at SpaceX Launch Site

![Onlookers spotted something rather strange being transported on the back of a pickup truck at SpaceX's "Starbase" testing facilities in South Texas.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/mysterious-robot-suit-spacex.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: \<a href="https://www.patreon.com/RGVaerial" target="\_blank"\>RGV Aerial Photography\</a\>\</em\>*

## Starbase Robot

A photographer spotted something intriguing being transported on the back of a pickup truck at SpaceX's "Starbase" testing facilities in South Texas.

An [image](<https://twitter.com/RGVaerialphotos/status/1448723313442820105>) shared by the RGV Aerial Photography — which is [Patreon-supported](<https://www.patreon.com/RGVaerial>) — shows what appears to be some kind of robot armor.

https://twitter.com/RGVaerialphotos/status/1448723313442820105

The suit's purpose is still entirely unclear. We have no idea what it is, who made it, or what it is for.

But given the fact that Tesla, SpaceX CEO Elon Musk's car venture, recently revealed that it is working on a [humanoid robot called Tesla Bot](<https://futurism.com/elon-musk-tesla-bot>), the discovery is more than just strange. We've got a lot of questions.

## Iron-Man Suit

For now, all we can do is hazard a guess.

"Did Elon Musk finally start working on the Iron-Man suit?" one redditor [chimed in](<https://www.reddit.com/r/SpaceXLounge/comments/q8726t/rgvaerialphotography_on_twitter_just_spotted_this/>). "Because that looks like the Mark I."

They're not wrong. It does bear a more-than-passing resemblance to the fictional Tony Stark's [first version of his Iron Man suit](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CKyYV5doCI>) in the Marvel franchise.

One thing's for sure: if it's meant for Halloween festivities, someone put a lot of work into it.

"This doesn't look like a decoration," another redditor [suggested](<https://www.reddit.com/r/SpaceXLounge/comments/q8726t/comment/hgnuiww/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3>). "It looks like a suit that a human could wear."

## SpaceX Quality

The craftsmanship, others pointed out, looks impressive. The suit appears to be crafted from aluminum and integrates what look like pads for comfortable wearing.

In other words, are we looking at an extremely elaborate Halloween costume?

"All joking aside, someone put a lot of time into this thing," one redditor [argued](<https://www.reddit.com/r/SpaceXLounge/comments/q8726t/comment/hgo2f6x/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3>).

Tesla already tried selling a [dancer in a suit](<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TsNc4nEX3c4>) as an early prototype of its Tesla Bot on stage — not that anybody would've been fooled.

Is SpaceX now trying to do the same? It's a big mystery. Perhaps on October 31, we will have an answer.

**More on SpaceX:** *[Michio Kaku: SpaceX Is Absolutely Destroying Blue Origin](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/michio-kaku-spacex-beating-blue-origin>)*

## Author
I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida.

### Author social links  
[Bluesky](<https://bsky.app/profile/vtanger.bsky.social>)