Spacesuit design for NASA’s Artemis III unveiled by Prada, Axiom Space

NASA Artemis astronauts will walk on the lunar surface wearing brand-new spacesuits.

Axiom Space and Prada have unveiled the flight design of the next-gen spacesuit to be used by Artemis III astronauts.

The Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit was showcased at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan, Italy.

“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,” said Matt Ondler, Axiom Space President.

“We have broken the mold. The Axiom Space-Prada partnership has set a new foundational model for cross-industry collaboration, further expanding what’s possible in commercial space,” Ondler added.

Prada’s expertise of sewing and materials

The lunar environment is harsh and unforgiving, unlike anything found on Earth.

The Moon experiences extreme temperature fluctuations between scorching hot days and freezing cold nights. On the other hand, the lack of atmosphere leaves it unprotected from harmful solar and cosmic radiation, which can damage materials.

Altogether, the Moon is a challenging environment for human exploration and habitation.

With the knowledge gained from the Apollo missions and the advancements in technology, the upcoming lunar exploration will feature innovative technological solutions.

The spacesuit features a sleek white outer layer that reflects heat and protects astronauts from the harsh lunar environment.

Prada’s expertise in materials and production processes contributed to the development of the AxEMU spacesuit. Their design and product development team worked closely with Axiom Space engineers to use materials that would protect astronauts.

This resulted in the creation of a spacesuit , which is functional, aesthetically pleasing, and offers astronaut comfort and maximum performance.

“We’ve shared our expertise on high-performance materials, features, and sewing techniques, and we learned a lot,” said Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility.

Equipped with support systems

The suit is designed to accommodate male and female crew members of various sizes.

Moreover, astronauts wearing this suit will be able to endure the harsh temperatures of the lunar south pole, including the extremely cold conditions in permanently shadowed regions for roughly two hours.

As per the press release, the suit will enable spacewalks for at least eight hours.

The AxEMU is equipped with specialized tools for working on the lunar south pole.

The AxEMU spacesuit is designed with multiple safety features, including redundant systems, a diagnostic system, carbon dioxide scrubbing, and cooling technology to remove system heat.

It also has advanced features like specialized coatings on the helmet and visor, custom gloves, and life support systems to ensure astronaut safety and enable successful exploration.

Axiom Space has continually improved the AxEMU spacesuit in the last few years to make it suitable for the Artemis III mission. The suit has undergone rigorous testing at various facilities, including underwater simulations and reduced gravity simulations.

It will continue to be tested in various environments, including integrated tests with the Artemis Lunar Terrain Vehicle. The suit will also enter the critical design review phase in 2025.

The AxEMU can be modified to make it suitable for missions on the lunar surface and in low-Earth orbit.

“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,” Bertelli said in the press release.