Insider Brief
- Axiom Space and Prada have revealed the flight design of the AxEMU spacesuit for NASA’s Artemis III mission. This next-generation suit combines Axiom’s engineering with Prada’s expertise in materials and design.
- The partnership focused on making the suit both functional and visually inspiring, enhancing astronaut comfort and material performance.
- The AxEMU spacesuit advances NASA’s previous design by increasing flexibility, performance, and safety. It is built to withstand the extreme temperatures of the lunar south pole, allows astronauts to perform spacewalks for at least eight hours, and accommodates a wide range of crew sizes, covering males and females from the first to 99th percentile.
- The suit has undergone underwater simulations and reduced gravity tests at NASA facilities. It is nearing its final development stage and will enter the critical design review phase in 2025.
At the International Astronautical Congress in Milan, Axiom Space and Prada revealed the flight design of the AxEMU spacesuit for NASA’s Artemis III mission. This next-generation suit combines Axiom’s engineering with Prada’s expertise in materials and design.
Axiom Space President Matt Ondler said their teams have redefined spacesuit development by blending creativity and engineering. “We have broken the mold,” he stated. “The Axiom Space-Prada partnership has set a new foundational model for cross-industry collaboration.”
Prada’s Chief Marketing Officer Lorenzo Bertelli expressed pride in the collaboration. “Going beyond our limits is one of the company’s values that perfectly reflects the spirit of the Prada brand,” he said. “We’ve shared our expertise on high-performance materials, features, and sewing techniques, and we learned a lot.”
Prada worked closely with the Axiom Space team to contribute to the suit’s outer-layer design offering recommendations on materials and features to protect astronauts against the harsh lunar environment. Their work focused on making the suit both functional and visually inspiring, enhancing astronaut comfort and material performance.
The AxEMU spacesuit advances NASA’s previous design by increasing flexibility, performance, and safety. It is built to withstand the extreme temperatures of the lunar south pole and allows astronauts to perform spacewalks for at least eight hours. The suit accommodates a wide range of crew sizes, covering males and females from the first to 99th percentile.
Safety features include multiple redundant systems and an onboard diagnostic system. The suit uses a regenerable carbon dioxide scrubbing system and robust cooling technology. Advanced coatings on the helmet and visor improve visibility, and custom gloves offer several advancements over current designs.
Axiom Space has been testing the AxEMU extensively with astronauts and engineers. The suit has undergone underwater simulations and reduced gravity tests at NASA facilities. It is nearing its final development stage and will enter the critical design review phase in 2025.
Image credit: Prada / Axiom Space
