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Prada and Axiom Space Are Heading to the Moon in New Spacesuit

11.14.24 | By
Prada and Axiom Space Are Heading to the Moon in New Spacesuit

Axiom Space, in collaboration with fashion house Prada, has unveiled the flight design for a new lunar spacesuit, the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU), which will be used in NASA’s Artemis III mission to the Moon. Revealed at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan, the suit is a product of an unprecedented partnership blending Prada’s mastery in materials and high-performance design with Axiom Space’s expertise in space technology. The result is an advanced, highly functional suit aimed at enhancing both astronaut comfort and performance in the challenging lunar environment.

An astronaut suit displayed upright against a plain gray background. The suit features white and gray panels with red accents and a reflective helmet visor.

This unique collaboration has allowed Axiom Space and Prada to fuse engineering with fashion-forward design. Prada’s extensive experience in luxury material development was key to crafting the outer layer, made to protect astronauts from extreme heat, abrasive lunar dust, and other harsh elements. During the unveiling, Axiom Space President Matt Ondler highlighted how the partnership has set a new standard for cross-industry innovation, emphasizing that they’ve pushed boundaries to create a suit that is as practical as it is groundbreaking in design.

A person in a white and black advanced spacesuit with a large helmet visor stands in front of a dark background. The suit is marked with various technical details and logos.

A person wearing a white spacesuit with "Axiom Space" printed on it stands against a dark background.

A detailed close-up of a spacesuit featuring the American flag, a reflective helmet visor, and various suit attachments against a dark background.

Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group’s Chief Marketing Officer, noted that this collaboration embodies Prada’s spirit of exploration and boundary-pushing. Prada’s team worked closely with Axiom engineers to tailor advanced materials, applying proprietary sewing techniques and technical skills to create a suit that promises enhanced durability and comfort for extended space missions.

Close-up of an astronaut suit with a reflective helmet. The suit features a patch with a space-themed design on the shoulder.

Close-up of an astronaut suit displaying a shoulder patch with space-related imagery and a helmet reflecting light.

Functionally, the AxEMU spacesuit is designed for the demands of lunar exploration, specifically around the lunar south pole. This suit has been rigorously tested for flexibility, temperature endurance, and astronaut safety, incorporating life-support features, advanced helmet coatings, and custom in-house gloves. Moreover, it boasts a regenerative carbon dioxide scrubbing system and cooling technology to prevent overheating. Adaptable for various astronaut body sizes and offering a wide range of motion, the AxEMU can support long-duration extravehicular activities, with a minimum of eight hours of operation in the unforgiving lunar landscape.

Close-up of a white spacesuit with an American flag patch and the "Axiom Space" logo. The suit features detailed stitching and joint padding.

A close-up of an astronaut suit's arm, featuring a red stripe and ribbed black padding on a grey background.

Close-up of a gloved hand in a spacesuit, with gray textured surfaces and padded fingertips against a dark background.

The spacesuit also supports NASA’s longer term goals by leveraging a modular architecture that can be adapted for both lunar and low-Earth orbit missions. Since the award of the Artemis contract in 2022 costing an estimated $228 million, Axiom Space has developed the AxEMU through a rigorous testing phase that includes underwater trials to simulate lunar gravity and uncrewed tests at NASA’s Johnson Space Center. It has now reached a critical phase in its development, where it will undergo crewed tests and an extensive review process leading up to the Artemis III mission.

Close-up of white padded pants with red vertical stripes near the seams, worn over light blue boots labeled "AXIOM" at the heel.

A small American flag patch above a vertical red stripe on a textured gray background.

Astronaut in a training suit practices maneuvering with a tool in a simulated space environment indoors, interacting with objects on the ground.

This partnership marks a new era of collaboration between the luxury and space sectors, highlighting how technical and aesthetic design can converge to push the boundaries of what is achievable in space exploration.

Two people in space suits are seated in a metal cage structure with a technician observing them from the background.

Two astronauts in spacesuits stand inside a white spacecraft module, with cables extending from the open doorway.

Two astronauts in space suits stand on a lunar surface. The infographic highlights features of the AxEMU spacesuit, such as HD cameras, suit management, safety enhancements, and custom gloves.

For more information on the AxEMU spacesuit, visit axiomspace.com.

Photography courtesy of Prada / Axiom Space.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.