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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
For more information on the AxEMU spacesuit, visit axiomspace.com.
Photography courtesy of Prada / Axiom Space.
