Luxury fashion house Prada and commercial space company Axiom Space have joined hands to launch the next-generation lunar spacesuit in preparation for NASA’s Artemis III mission.
This mission is expected to mark a historic moment for space exploration, as it is not humankind’s first return to the moon since 1972 but will also be the first time a woman will walk on its surface.
Christina Koch, the only woman in the Artemis crew, is all set to make space history. To date, only 12 astronauts have walked all the moon, all men. All eyes are on the one who will soon change that narrative.
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A Fashion Statement in Space:
Revealed during the International Astronautical Congress in Milan, the newly designed Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit is highly innovative while also retaining a nod to the classic design worn by legendary Apollo astronauts during their lunar expeditions over 50 years ago.
The outer layer is primarily white, with a cropped torso and stone-gray patches across the elbows and knees, engineered to reflect heat while ensuring resilience against the extreme temperatures of the moon.
Breaking free from the rigid, one-size-fits-all approach of traditional space gear, this designed adaptable architecture, marking a significant new phase of fashion innovation.
While the suits are free from logos and branding, Prada’s influence is visible with sleek grey and red stripes along with “portable life system backpacks”, echoing Prada’s Luna Rossa America’s Cup yacht.
Historic Collaboration:
Combining luxury fashion and space travel, this unexpected partnership marks a new era of experimentation and set a precedent that will shape the future of astronaut wear.
“We are pioneering a new era in space exploration where partnerships are imperative to the commercialization of space,” said Russell Ralston, Executive Vice President of Extravehicular Activity, Axiom Space. “Partnerships build a strong, cohesive team, enabling industry experts to provide cutting-edge technology, specialized products and services to drive innovation. For the first time, we are leveraging expertise in other industries to craft a better solution for space.”
“Our elite teams have redefined spacesuit development, establishing new pathways to innovative solutions and applying a state-of-the-art design approach for the AxEMU,” said Matt Ondler, Axiom Space President. “We have broken the mold. The Axiom Space-Prada partnership has set a new foundational model for cross-industry collaboration, further expanding what’s possible in commercial space.”
The upcoming mission aims to explore the lunar South Pole’s water craters, some of the coldest spots in the universe.
Learn more about the dynamic collaboration here.
