Prada and Axiom Space join forces for stylish lunar spacesuits for NASA's Artemis III mission, marking a pioneering fashion and space collaboration.
The Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Units (AxEMUs) will draw inspiration from NASA's Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) design, infused with Prada's distinct style and innovative elements.
The new spacesuit is carried out during the Axiom Space Artemis III Lunar Spacesuit event at Space Center Houston in Houston, Texas, on March 15, 2023.
Adding Pradda's Signature Style in AxEMUs
Axiom Space, known for its upcoming spacesuits, has announced a collaboration with Prada, tapping into the fashion house's expertise in materials and manufacturing. While Prada is renowned for creating unique and stylish designs, the primary focus remains on ensuring the spacesuits maintain a robust thermal environment, crucial for the lunar surface's harsh conditions.
It's important to note that the collaboration does not imply that the Artemis III spacesuits will resemble high-end fashion garments with fancy patterns.
These Prada-designed spacesuits will make their debut in the Artemis III mission, following Artemis II, which is scheduled for launch late next year or early 2025. While NASA hasn't finalized the Artemis III launch window, the involvement of both Axiom Space and Prada assures that astronauts will be well-prepared for these historic missions.
The AxEMU spacesuits will be rooted in NASA's Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) design, infused with Prada's signature style and innovation. Prada's engineers will collaborate with Axiom Space's systems team to develop materials and features aimed at ensuring astronaut comfort and safety during lunar surface activities.
Michael Suffredini, Axiom Space's CEO, expresses his enthusiasm for partnering with Prada on the AxEMU spacesuit, highlighting Prada's technical proficiency in raw materials, manufacturing techniques, and innovative design concepts. This collaboration aims to address previously overlooked human factors in spacesuit design and improve astronaut comfort on the lunar surface.
According to Lorenzo Bertelli, the Marketing Director of Prada Group, this partnership with Axiom Space exemplifies Prada's commitment to innovation and exploration. Drawing on their extensive experience in technology and design, including their participation in Luna Rossa's America's Cup challenge in the '90s, Prada aims to create spacesuits suited for the Artemis era.
These AxEMU spacesuits will empower astronauts with enhanced flexibility, superior protection from the harsh lunar environment, and specialized tools for scientific and exploration activities, enabling them to explore previously uncharted areas of the Moon's surface.
Next-Gen Spacesuits Since the Last Moon Mission
The development of next-generation spacesuits is a significant milestone in advancing space exploration, with NASA and Axiom Space collaborating on designs that will be worn by Artemis astronauts, including the first woman and person of color set to visit the Moon.
The first mission, Artemis II, is scheduled for late next year, followed by Artemis III in 2025, marking NASA's return to lunar exploration since Apollo 17 in 1972. These new spacesuits, designed by Axiom Space, are essential for the rigors of extended missions on the lunar south pole and are the first new spacesuit designs since the Space Shuttle era.
In March, NASA and Axiom Space revealed the spacesuit design, initially featuring black with orange hues. However, the final suits for the Artemis missions will have a white outer layer to provide heat reflection and protection against extremely high temperatures.
The prototype suit introduced in March had a custom cover layer with Axiom Space's branding colors, developed in collaboration with the costume designer for the Apple TV+ show "For All Mankind," which explores an alternative space race history.
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Check out more news and information on the Artemis Program in Science Times.
