Axiom Space, Prada Disclosed New Spacesuit Design For Moon Return

Hello Folks,

Prepare for the news you never saw coming — Prada is going to the moon! Yes, the future of fashion is here!

In a bold new venture revealed on Wednesday, Prada is set to style NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration ’s first human mission to the lunar South Pole. The high-end brand is about to make space exploration look more fashionable than ever. Historic doesn’t even cut it.

Private space company Axiom Space has partnered with the Italian brand Prada Group to create a new spacesuit design. They officially revealed the suit at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan.

This innovative collaboration aims to provide astronauts with surface suits and spacewalk systems. It is set to be worn by the first woman and the first person of color to land on the moon during the upcoming Artemis III mission in September 2026. The spacesuits are not just practical but also make a statement about breaking barriers in both fashion and functionality.

The external layer of the new spacesuit is mainly white, echoing the design of the Apollo suits worn over 50 years ago by astronauts on the moon. But the update stands out with its minimalist approach, conspicuously free of branding or logos. The design includes a few touches of grey and red stripes across the forearms, waist, and the "portable life system backpack," similar to Italy's Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli America's Cup Boat, also sponsored by Prada.

That’s Prada's way of saying, “We’re here.” Quiet but loud at the same time, and this creates a fusion where high fashion meets high stakes.

Engineers from Axiom Space worked closely with Prada’s design and product development team on custom protective materials and features for high-intensity lunar conditions. The suit is designed to ensure maximum comfort for astronauts while safeguarding them from radiation and external pressure. It also supplies power and oxygen for up to eight hours of moonwalk. This project beautifully illustrates the fusion of engineering, science, and art.

"We are pioneering a new era in space exploration. For the first time, we are leveraging expertise from various industries to create better solutions for space," said Russell Ralston , Axiom Space's Executive Vice President of Extravehicular Activity. Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada's Group Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, expressed pride in collaboration stating, "Partnering with Axiom Space has been an unprecedented journey. I am particularly proud of our teams who have worked to provide tailor-made solutions to enhance astronauts' comfort and flexibility.”

The suit, designed to be gender-neutral and available in a one-size-fits-all format, has taken several years to develop. Lorenzo Bertelli, the chief marketing officer of Prada Group, also shared that talks about the collaboration began even before the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Prada's extensive textile production and sewing expertise played a key role in merging functionality with style. A team of about 10 Prada employees contributed to the project, regularly traveling between Milan and Axiom’s headquarters in Houston.

Set for the latter half of 2026, NASA’s Artemis III mission aims to make history with the first moon landing since Apollo 17 in 1972. If successful, it could also see a woman walk for the first time wearing Prada on the moon.

As the countdown continues, the partners will continue testing the suit in a variety of harsh conditions to ensure it's mission-ready. Until then, one can only imagine how forthcoming space tech advancements will continue to push the fashion industry forward and build new bridges between global innovators.

“Today, anyone with deep pockets can go to space,” Bertelli told journalists in Milan. “Soon, it’ll become affordable and people will be able to go to the moon. So I think we’re just at the beginning of a new era.”

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