MILAN — On October 16, 2024, at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan, Axiom Space and Prada unveiled their design for the lunar spacesuit that will be employed by the Artemis III mission. The two companies are teaming up to design and build the extravehicular activity suit, dubbed AxEMU, that will take humans back to the Moon.
“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,” commented Matt Ondler, Axiom Space President.
Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, also offered his remarks, “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.”
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An unexpected cooperation
The two companies worked together forming an unusual partnership. They however managed to combine the strengths of the two to tackle the challenges of the project. Prada’s expertise in advanced materials and innovative manufacturing techniques, coupled with Axiom’s engineering knowledge, resulted in a design that is both functional and visually inspiring.
For example, the colored stripes allow for the distinction of the astronaut’s role while also contributing to the suit’s aesthetics. This practice dates back to the Apollo era.

“Two very different leaders in their industries have come together to deliver a next-generation spacesuit for the return to the Moon, for the first time ever to the South Pole. This collaboration exemplifies the power to create better technological solutions by merging Axiom Space’s lead engineering experience with Prada’s renowned craftsmanship,” commented Russell Ralston, Executive Vice President, EVA Program Management, Engineering.
“We’ve blended science, engineering, and art to produce the ultimate garment for future moonwalkers” continued Ralston, “We are leveraging our unique strengths to inspire and engage a broader audience. Additionally this partnership is helping refine production strategies and stabilizing supply chian challenges that historically had been problematic in the spacesuit world.”
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The suit
AxEMU was designed to offer maximum flexibility. Instead of being tailor-made, the major components of the suit can be adjusted to fit most astronauts. Only very specific components such as gloves may need to be sized for the user. The suit was also designed to allow easy access to all components for repairs.
AxEMU has to face numerous challenges posed by the harsh evinronment of the Moon. The lunar soil can be extremely hot or cold, requiring adequate thermal insultation for the boots. Also concerning heat management, the suit’s external layer is white to reflect heat from the Sun. In images previously released it was painted black to conceal proprietary technology. However, the flight models will be white in color.

The suit incorporates multiple technologies to ensure the wellbeing and safety of astronauts. AxEMU’s employs system redundacy and an onboard diagnostic systems to ensure safety in case of failures. The suit also incorporates a regenerable carbon dioxide scrubber and helmet visor coatings that enhance the user’s view of the surroundings. The latter is particularly important at the lunar South Pole, where the Sun is often low on the horizon.
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Gearing up for flight
The spacesuit is one of the crucial pieces of hardware being developed for Artemis III’s return to the Moon. It is thus essential for AxEMU to be ready for the landing, currently scheduled for 2026. One of the next major development milestones is the critical design review phase, which will begin in 2025.

The spacesuit design is already enduring many tests. These include a test of Starship’s airlock, which the suits will have to use when getting to the lunar surface. Tests were also conducted in a simulated reduced gravity environment at NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory. “Delivering the space suits is an enormous responsibility, we are very committed to making that happen on schedule. We will deliver the suit on time and be ready for Artmis III,” remarked Ondler.
For the complete coverage of the 2024 International Astronautical Congress, please click here.
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