NASA Wears Prada: Axiom Shows New Fancy AxEMU Lunar Spacesuit For Artemis Mission

A few hours ago, at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan on 16 October, Italian luxury fashion house Prada and commercial space company Axiom Space have unveiled their highly anticipated spacesuit design for NASA’s Artemis III mission. “We’re blending engineering, science and art,” commented Russel Ralston, executive vice president of Axiom Space, during the press conference dedicated to the Axiom AxEMU lunar spacesuit.

What’s So Special About New Axiom AxEMU Lunar Spacesuit?

This groundbreaking collaboration between Prada and Axiom Space aims to equip astronauts for the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17 in December 1972.

The Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit has several innovative features:

• Improved Mobility: Enhanced flexibility compared to previous designs, allowing for a greater range of motion on the lunar surface.
• Extended EVA Duration: Astronauts can conduct spacewalks for up to eight hours daily.
• Temperature Regulation: A white outer layer reflects heat, protecting against extreme temperatures.
• Dust Protection: Specially designed to withstand the harsh lunar environment and abrasive moon dust.
• Gender-Neutral Design: Available in a single size to accommodate various body types.

The mostly white suits feature a cropped torso and stone-gray patches across the elbows and knees. While conspicuously free of overt branding or logos, the designs include subtle red accent lines across the forearms, waist, and “portable life system backpacks,” which nod to Prada’s sub-brand, Linea Rossa.

Approximately ten Prada employees dedicated themselves full-time to the spacesuit project, frequently traveling between Milan and Houston.

What Is It Even Made Of? Evolution of the Spacesuits

The AxEMU represents an evolution of NASA’s Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) suits.

The Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) is the product of 21 years of research and development, manufactured by Hamilton Standard (now Collins Aerospace) for hardware and ILC Dover for soft components. After securing the contract in 1974, the EMU was introduced in 1981 as a two-piece semi-rigid suit. It remains one of the two primary spacesuits used for extravehicular activities (EVAs) on the International Space Station (ISS).

Spacesuits, like NASA’s Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU), are built using cutting-edge materials to ensure astronaut safety and mobility in space. These suits consist of multiple layers, each serving a specific function. The innermost cooling layer, made from Spandex, regulates temperature through embedded water hoses. The bladder layer, crafted from polyurethane-coated nylon, maintains airtightness and provides breathable oxygen. Surrounding this is a polyester restraint layer, followed by a tear-resistant ripstop layer for durability, and insulation layers of mylar to retain body heat.

The outermost layer of the EMU is designed to withstand the harsh environment of space. Made from advanced materials like Teflon for water resistance, Nomex for fire resistance, and Kevlar for flame protection, it shields astronauts from solar radiation and extreme temperatures. The helmet, featuring a gold-coated visor, reflects harmful infrared and ultraviolet rays while allowing clear visibility.

Building on this legacy, the AxEMU (Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit), developed by Axiom Space in collaboration with Prada, marks a new chapter in spacesuit design. Prada’s expertise in composite materials has helped create a lighter, more flexible outer shell, enhancing astronaut mobility and comfort. 

Future Mission

The Axiom AxEMU lunar spacesuit will play a crucial role in NASA’s Artemis III mission, currently scheduled for the second half of 2026. This mission will mark several historic firsts:

• The first woman to walk on the Moon
• The first person of color to set foot on the lunar surface
• Exploration of the lunar south pole, a region never before visited by humans