At the International Astronautical Congress in Milan, Italy, Axiom Space and Italian luxury fashion house Prada unveiled the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit that astronauts will wear during NASA's Artemis III mission, scheduled for launch in September 2026.
Prada engineers worked alongside Axiom Space experts to develop the AxEMU suit, ensuring durability and comfort while protecting astronauts from extreme temperatures and lunar dust.
"I'm very proud of the result we're showing today, which is just the first step in a long-term collaboration with Axiom Space," said Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada's Chief Marketing Officer, according to Science Alert.
The AxEMU suit, predominantly white with gray patches and red accents, combines functionality and aesthetics. The suits feature innovative joint designs that allow for a greater range of motion, enabling astronauts to perform tasks more effectively, including the ability to walk, bend, and kneel to collect soil samples.
"We are pioneering a new era in space exploration, where alliances are fundamental to the commercialization of space," said Russell Ralston, Executive Vice President of Extravehicular Activity at Axiom Space, according to Vogue France.
Designed for NASA's Artemis III mission, the AxEMU suit aims to facilitate exploration around the Moon's southern pole, a region with extreme temperatures and challenging terrain. The suit is engineered to withstand the coldest temperatures in permanently shadowed regions for at least two hours, providing better resistance to these environments.
The Artemis III mission will include the first woman and the first person of color to walk on the Moon, with astronaut Christina Koch potentially making history.
"The partnership with Axiom Space has been an unprecedented adventure," said Bertelli, according to Vogue France. "We have shared our expertise on high-performance materials, features, and sewing techniques, and we have learned a lot."
"We have broken the mold. The partnership between Axiom Space and Prada has established a new foundational model for collaboration between industries, further expanding what's possible in commercial space," said Matt Ondler, President of Axiom Space, according to People.
The AxEMU suits are designed to accommodate a wide range of astronauts, featuring a gender-neutral, unisex design that can adapt to different sizes, enhancing comfort and usability for both males and females.
"Our drive to push the boundaries of innovation is central to Prada's mission," stated Bertelli, as reported by Fox News.
As the Artemis III mission approaches, the AxEMU suit continues to undergo rigorous testing to ensure it meets NASA's standards. Key design evaluations are scheduled for 2025, and the suit will participate in integrated testing with Artemis lunar lander prototypes.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.