Behind the brand’s bespoke cutting-edge spacesuit created in collaboration with Axiom Space.
That’s right, the first woman to walk on the moon will be clad in Prada. Designed to be worn during NASA’s much anticipated Artemis III mission in 2026, the strong, pressurized garment will go down in history, accompanying the first American crewed lunar landing since that of Apollo 17 in December 1972.
The finalized Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) suit was unveiled last Wednesday in Milan at the International Astronautical Congress. Developed with Axiom Space, the leading provider of human spaceflight services and developer of human-rated space infrastructure, it represents an advanced fusion of creativity and engineering to enhance next-generation spacesuit design.
“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. “For the first time, we are leveraging expertise in other industries to craft a better solution for space.”
Epitomizing the efficacious results reaped when industry leaders come together and combine their expertise in technology, innovation and creativity, the AxEMU suit signals the advancement of NASA’s Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) spacesuit design. To achieve this, Prada’s design and product development team worked alongside specialist Axiom Space engineers on “customized material recommendations and features that would both protect astronauts against the unique challenges of the lunar environment and visually inspire future space exploration.”
“Going beyond our limits is one of the company’s values that perfectly reflects the spirit of the Prada brand and my parents’ vision.”
Lorenzo Bertelli. Group Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, Prada.
Lorenzo Bertelli, son of Miuccia Prada, who acts as the company’s Group Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility said, “Going beyond our limits is one of the company’s values that perfectly reflects the spirit of the Prada brand and my parents’ vision. 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. I’m sure we’ll continue to explore new challenges, broaden our horizons, and build new scenarios together.”
Conceptualized, constructed and iteratively improved across both Milan and Houston, the suit provides more flexibility, efficient performance, and safety features than ever before – incorporating a regenerable carbon dioxide scrubbing system, robust cooling technology and life support systems into its architecture. It demonstrates groundbreaking material fabrication, which, once on the moon, will enable astronauts to perform spacewalks for at least eight hours and to “withstand extreme temperatures at the lunar south pole and endure the coldest temperatures in the permanently shadowed regions.” As the space voyage draws increasingly close, the AxEMU has also undergone extensive testing and underwater simulations at the state-of-the-art Axiom Space, SpaceX and NASA facilities in order to evoke the lunar environment it will be worn in.
Functionality and performance take precedence in the composition of this immaculately engineered suit. Complete with gloves and a shiny silver visor, it boasts a crisp white exterior which reflects heat and protects wearers from extreme high temperatures and lunar dust. Subtle decorative motifs adorn the surface, such as layered, articulated grey knee patches and Prada’s signature red lines, reminiscent of those seen in the fashion house’s Linea Rossa (Red Moon) technical line, which outfitted the Luna Rossa sailing team at the The Louis Vuitton America’s Cup last September. This inclusion is representative of Prada’s pioneering, multidisciplinary approach across several sporting industries and now even further afield, in Space.
Having witnessed a profusion of extra-terrestrial, space-themed fashion shows in years past, Prada’s quite literally, otherworldly manifestation of their work in Space is a surprising yet hugely exciting and momentous departure for the brand.
And if you just can’t wait until their spacesuit’s interstellar debut, you can visit Milan’s Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, where, starting on October 18 2024, the ensemble is being presented to the public.
All imagery courtesy of Prada.
