This partnership emphasizes the incorporation of Prada’s iconic style into the final spacesuit designs.
In an extraordinary fusion of fashion and space exploration, Italian luxury fashion brand Prada has entered into a partnership with Axiom Space to design spacesuits for NASA’s upcoming Artemis III mission to the Moon.
“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,” Prada wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
Named AxEMU, the spacesuits are designed using innovative technologies that are said to “enable greater exploration of the lunar surface than ever before.” The spacesuits are created to provide greater flexibility and protection to astronauts to withstand the harsh environment, while also providing specialized tools for exploration and scientific opportunities.
In March, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, or NASA, unveiled the new spacesuits that will be worn by the astronauts on the Artemis III mission to the Moon. The U.S. space agency announced that moonwalkers will wear spacesuits provided by Axiom Space.
Though the spacesuit prototype, the AxEMU, uses a dark gray cover material, the final version will likely be all-white when worn by the astronauts on the Moon’s surface which will help keep them safe and cool while working in the harsh environment of space. The company will test the suit in a spacelike environment before the Artemis III mission, which is currently planned for 2025.
The U.S. space agency launched the Artemis I mission with the gigantic Space Launch System, the most powerful rocket in history, carrying the Orion spacecraft in November last year. NASA is now gearing up for its Artemis II mission, which is set to launch in November 2024. Following two Artemis test missions, Artemis III would mark humanity’s first return, and see the touchdown of the first woman, to the lunar surface in more than 50 years.
Meanwhile, the involvement of Prada signifies a significant departure from conventional spacesuit design. While safety and functionality remain paramount, this partnership emphasizes the incorporation of Prada’s iconic style into the final spacesuit designs. The result is expected to be a remarkable departure from the traditional astronaut attire. As we look to the future, it’s clear that the Artemis III mission will not only make history but also make a statement in the world of fashion and space exploration.
