It’s the collaboration the fashion world never expected.
Prada — known for its luxury handbags, accessories and shoes — has set its sights on designing a spacesuit that could be worn on the next mission to the moon.
The renowned fashion company, founded in Milan in 1913, worked with Axiom Space to advise on the suit’s design and materials.
The creation, called the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit, is described as “evolvable, scalable and adaptable” for missions on the lunar surface and in low Earth orbit.
Prada said the design team could help recommend custom materials and features for the spacesuit, as well as sewing methods that could improve the suit’s performance.
Prada – known for its luxury handbags, accessories and shoes – has started designing a spacesuit that could be worn during the next mission to the moon
Prada said the design team could help recommend custom materials and features for the spacesuit, as well as sewing methods that could improve the suit’s performance.
The suit, which will be worn by the next humans to walk on the lunar surface, will be able to withstand extreme temperatures at the moon’s south pole and the coldest temperatures in permanently shaded areas.
It is designed to accommodate both male and female astronauts with enhanced flexibility and mobility, allowing them to walk around for at least eight hours.
Features also include variable suit pressure, a carbon dioxide scrubbing system, a wearable backpack with a life support system and a bright white outer layer to reflect heat.
The full design also includes advanced coatings on the helmet and visor to improve the astronauts’ view of their surroundings, as well as custom gloves.
The suit, which will be worn by the next humans to walk on the lunar surface, will be able to withstand extreme temperatures at the moon’s south pole and the coldest temperatures in permanently shadowed areas.
It is designed to accommodate both male and female astronauts with enhanced flexibility and mobility, allowing them to move for at least eight hours
Lorenzo Bertelli, Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility of the Prada Group said: “Pushing our boundaries is one of the values of the company that perfectly reflects the spirit of the Prada brand and the vision of my parents.
“I am very proud of the result we are showing today, which is just the first step in a long-term partnership with Axiom Space.
“We shared our expertise in high-quality materials, features and sewing techniques, and we learned a lot.
“I am sure that we will continue to explore new challenges, broaden our horizons and build new scenarios together.”
The entire design also includes advanced coatings on the helmet and visor to enhance the astronauts’ view of their surroundings, as well as custom gloves
The suit will be used for NASA’s Artemis III mission, a crewed lunar landing that won’t take place until September 2026.
It will be the first time humans have returned to the moon since Apollo 17 in 1972, and it will spend a week exploring the lunar surface while conducting scientific studies.
“Our elite teams have redefined spacesuit development, created new avenues for innovative solutions, and applied a state-of-the-art design approach to the AxEMU,” said Matt Oundle, president of Axiom Space.
“We’ve broken the mold. The partnership between Axiom Space and Prada has established a new fundamental model for cross-industry collaboration, further expanding the possibilities in commercial spaceflight.”
Axiom Space said this is the first time it has “leveraged expertise from other industries” to improve the design of its spacesuits.
The suit has already been extensively tested and simulated with a wide range of astronauts, including underwater to simulate the lunar environment and reduced gravity.