Gaby
Can you guess which fashion house we’re talking about? That’s right, it’s Prada. They have designed both men’s and women’s spacesuits for NASA astronauts, who are set to embark on a mission to the Moon in 2026 as part of the Artemis III program.
For a company known for high fashion, this is a new and unexpected venture. The Prada brand, famous for its luxurious bags, accessories, clothing, and footwear, has suddenly taken on the challenge of developing spacesuits for a lunar mission.
Founded in 1913 in Milan, the fashion house has teamed up with the American company Axiom Space, which provides services and infrastructure for space travel. More specifically, the Italian designers benefited from consultations with Axiom Space experts on the specifics of space gear. In turn, the Prada design team recommended optimal materials for the suits, as well as sewing techniques that could enhance the suit’s performance.
What Did They Create?
This collaboration resulted in the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU), a spacesuit made from a white, heat-reflective material. NASA described the suit as “evolved, scalable, and adaptable” for missions on the lunar surface and in low Earth orbit.
The creators of the AxEMU equipped their design with a control panel, a carbon dioxide removal device, a portable life support backpack, lighting, a camera, 4G/LTE communication, and other essential components.
This example of high-space fashion is capable of withstanding extreme temperatures at the Moon’s south pole and the coldest conditions in its shadowed regions. The suit features enhanced flexibility and mobility, allowing astronauts to operate in open space for at least eight hours. Additionally, the suit is equipped with a state-of-the-art thermal regulation system.
The design includes an extra layer for the helmet and visor, enabling mission participants to improve their view of extraterrestrial landscapes. The kit also features upgraded gloves and boots with blue soles, reminiscent of the footwear worn by the astronauts who first set foot on the Moon over 50 years ago.
The suit has already undergone a series of tests, including underwater trials, as reported by the Daily Mail.
According to NASA, in 2026, as part of the Artemis III mission, a team of astronauts consisting of three men and one woman will travel to the Moon in these suits and land at the lunar south pole.
This will mark the first return of humans to the Moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. During the expedition, the crew will explore the lunar surface and conduct various scientific research activities.
