Prada and Axiom Space engineer the future of space exploration

This new spacesuit will be used for NASA’s Artemis III mission, marking a significant step towards the next generation of spacesuit development.

The collaboration between Axiom Space and Prada began with the goal of combining engineering expertise and design creativity. The outer-layer design and material development were a joint effort to enhance the spacesuit’s functionality and aesthetics.

Axiom Space President Matt Ondler stated: “Our elite teams have redefined spacesuit development, establishing new pathways to innovative solutions and applying a state-of-the-art design approach for the AxEMU. We have broken the mould. The Axiom Space-Prada partnership has set a new foundational model for cross-industry collaboration, further expanding what’s possible in commercial space.”

For display purposes during development, Axiom Space used a dark cover layer to conceal proprietary technology. The final spacesuit, however, will feature a white outer material designed to reflect heat and protect astronauts from extreme temperatures and lunar dust on the Moon's surface.

Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, expressed pride in the partnership’s achievements: “Going beyond our limits is one of the company’s values that perfectly reflects the spirit of the Prada brand and my parents’ vision. I’m very proud of the result we’re showing today, which is just the first step in a long-term collaboration with Axiom Space. We’ve shared our expertise on high-performance materials, features, and sewing techniques, and we learned a lot. I’m sure we’ll continue to explore new challenges, broaden our horizons, and build new scenarios together.”

Prada’s contributions extended beyond the spacesuit’s cover layer, with its design and product development team working closely with Axiom Space engineers to recommend materials and features that could withstand the lunar environment’s unique challenges. This collaboration bridged the gap between advanced functionality and an appealing aesthetic design, providing astronauts with a more comfortable and durable spacesuit.

The AxEMU programme demonstrates how commercial space ventures can leverage unconventional partnerships to advance space exploration. Axiom Space, which was awarded its first Artemis task order in 2022, valued at $228 million, has pursued expertise from diverse fields to refine the next-generation spacesuit.

Russell Ralston, Executive Vice President of Extravehicular Activity at Axiom Space, highlighted the significance of these partnerships: “We are pioneering a new era in space exploration where partnerships are imperative to the commercialisation of space. Partnerships build a strong, cohesive team, enabling industry experts to provide cutting-edge technology, specialised products and services to drive innovation. For the first time, we are leveraging expertise in other industries to craft a better solution for space.”

The AxEMU spacesuit incorporates several enhancements over NASA’s Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) design, offering improved flexibility, performance, and safety. It is equipped with tools for exploring the lunar south pole, where astronauts will face extreme temperatures and permanently shadowed regions. The suit accommodates a diverse range of crewmembers, covering anthropomorphic sizes from the first to 99th percentile, and allows astronauts to conduct spacewalks for up to eight hours.

Safety features include multiple redundant systems and an onboard diagnostic system. The suit’s advanced life support components feature a regenerable carbon dioxide scrubbing system and robust cooling technology. The helmet and visor are coated with special materials to improve visibility, and the custom gloves – developed in-house – incorporate advancements over current designs. The suit's architecture integrates life support systems, pressure garments, avionics, and other components to meet exploration demands and expand scientific opportunities.

Axiom Space has utilised a flexible foundational architecture for the AxEMU, making it scalable and adaptable for missions on the Moon and in low-Earth orbit (LEO). Over the past two years, the company has conducted extensive testing and simulations at its own, SpaceX, and NASA facilities, including underwater tests to replicate the lunar environment and reduced gravity simulations at NASA’s Johnson Space Centre.

The AxEMU is now in the final stages of development, having completed a successful pressurised simulation with Artemis III partners, including NASA and SpaceX. This marked the first such test since the Apollo era. The spacesuit will continue to undergo rigorous testing, including crewed underwater trials and integrated tests with Artemis Lunar Terrain Vehicle prototypes, before entering the critical design review phase in 2025.