Prada’s spacesuits are going to be out of this world… literally
The Italian label is set to design for the astronauts embarking on Nasa’s Artemis III mission
Prada aiming to plant its fashionable feet firmly on the Moon by collaborating with commercial company Axiom Space, to develop next-generation space suits for NASA’s 2025 Artemis III mission.
The 2025 mission marks a historic moment, intending to be the first to place a woman on the Moon and the initial crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17 in December 1972.
Engineers at Italian luxury fashion designer Prada will be partnering with those at Axiom Space systems during the entire suit design process, as announced by the commercial space company. Together, they will create materials and design features to shield astronauts from the unique challenges of space and the lunar environment, according to Axiom Space.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with Prada on the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit,” stated the company’s chief, Michael Suffredini. “Prada’s technical expertise with raw materials, manufacturing techniques, and innovative design concepts will introduce advanced technologies crucial in ensuring not only the astronauts' comfort on the lunar surface but also the essential human factors considerations absent from previous spacesuits,” Suffredini affirmed.
In the first partnership between an Italian luxury fashion house and a commercial space company, Prada’s engineers are working alongside @Axiom_Space to help design spacesuits for NASA’s Artemis III lunar mission planned for 2025. https://t.co/iYHo6Rd1ts. #Prada #AxEMU pic.twitter.com/TmkGIo5RoH
— PRADA (@Prada) October 4, 2023
The upcoming generation of space suits is anticipated to offer astronauts enhanced capabilities for space exploration. They will be essential for providing NASA astronauts with the necessary systems to access, live, and work on and around the Moon. Earlier this year, NASA revealed the prototype design for the Artemis III spacesuits.
As part of the mission, a NASA astronaut crew will be transported to the Moon aboard the Orion spacecraft, spending weeks on the lunar surface. SpaceX has been chosen to supply the human landing system, facilitating the astronauts' transportation from Orion in lunar orbit to the Moon's surface and back.
The advanced space suits designed for this mission are anticipated to grant astronauts an increased range of motion and flexibility, enabling them to explore more of the Moon’s landscapes compared to previous missions.
In developing NASA’s design, Axiom Space emphasized that the spacesuits are engineered to offer enhanced flexibility, superior protection against the harsh environment, and specialized tools for exploration and scientific opportunities, allowing “greater exploration of the lunar surface than ever before.”
“The continually forward-thinking ethos of Prada for humanity has now extended to the desire for adventure and to brave new horizons: space,” remarked Prada’s marketing director, Lorenzo Bertelli.
“We are honored to be part of this historic mission with Axiom Space. Our decades of experimentation, cutting-edge technology, and design expertise will now be applied to the creation of a spacesuit for the Artemis era. It is a true celebration of the power of human creativity and innovation to advance civilization,” Bertelli expressed.