Axiom Space and Prada Unveil Spacesuit Design for Return to the Moon
At the International Astronautical Congress in Milan, Axiom Space and Prada presented the first flight design of the Axiom Extravehicle Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit, which will be used on NASA’s Artemis III mission. The work on the outer shell design and materials was a collaboration between two industry leaders who combined creativity and engineering to improve the design of the next generation spacesuit.
“Our elite teams have redefined the approach to spacesuit development, pioneering new paths to innovative solutions and applying advanced design for AxEMUsaid Matt Ondler, President of Axiom Space. “We broke the mold. “The partnership between Axiom Space and Prada has created a fundamental new model for cross-industry collaboration, further expanding the capabilities of the commercial space.”
During development, Axiom Space used a dark cloak to cover the display suit and hide its unique technology. However, the suit that will be worn on the lunar surface will be made of a white material that reflects heat and protects astronauts from extreme temperatures and lunar dust.
Lorenzo Bertelli, Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility of the Prada Group, said that “going beyond our limits is one of the company’s values, which perfectly reflects the spirit of the Prada brand and the vision of my parents. I’m very proud of the result we’re showing today, and it’s just the first step of a long-term collaboration with Axiom Space. We shared our experiences using high-performance materials, features and sewing techniques and learned a lot. I am confident that we will continue to explore new challenges, expand our horizons and build new scenarios together.
Prada’s deep knowledge and experience in materials and manufacturing processes, in addition to creating the outer layer of the spacesuit, contributed to the innovative work. Prada’s design and development team worked with Axiom Space engineers to create recommendations for materials and custom features that will protect astronauts from the unique challenges of the lunar environment and visually inspire future space exploration.
Prada’s expertise has enabled it to use advanced technology and innovative sewing techniques to bridge the gap between high-tech functionality and an aesthetically pleasing white outer shell, providing astronauts with a higher level of comfort while improving material performance.
The AxEMU program demonstrates how the commercial space industry is enabling an unconventional partnership to expand space exploration capabilities. Since receiving its first $228 million Artemis order in 2022, Axiom Space has taken advantage of its public-private agreement with NASA, bringing in recognized experts across multiple industries to help develop and design this next-generation spacesuit.
“We are ushering in a new era in space exploration, where partnerships are critical to the commercialization of space,” said Russell Ralston, executive vice president of extravehicular activities at Axiom Space. “Alliances create a strong, cohesive team that allows industry experts to offer cutting-edge technologies, specialized products and services to drive innovation. For the first time, “We are leveraging the expertise of other industries to develop the best solution for space.”