Axiom Space To Collaborate With Prada On Artemis Spacesuits

Axiom Space continues to work on the development of their first spacesuit which will be used for NASA's Artemis missions. In a surpise annoucement Axiom Space is partnering with Prada, the renowned Italian luxury fashion house.

The collaboration is set to revolutionize the design and functionality of spacesuits for astronauts who will walk on the moon during Artemis missions, starting with Artemis 3 in 2025.

While the collaboration may raise eyebrows due to the unconventional pairing of a fashion brand with a space technology company, both Axiom Space and Prada are emphasizing the deep technological expertise that underlies this partnership.

"While it doesn't seem obvious what the technological reasons are for collaborating with a company like Prada, they're more than just a fashion company. They actually do quite a bit of technologically advanced things." - Michael Suffredini, Chief Executive of Axiom Space

The primary focus of Prada's involvement will be the outer layer of the spacesuit, tasked with safeguarding the suit's inner layers from harsh space environments, including lunar dust, while ensuring unhindered mobility for astronauts. Prada's long-standing expertise in composite materials dates back to the 1990s when it founded the Luna Rossa yachting team to compete for the America's Cup

"When it comes to the design side of that piece of it, it makes a lot of sense because Prada has a lot of experience in the design, the look and feel...More importantly, there are these technological challenges to try to overcome as well." - Michael Suffredini, Chief Executive of Axiom Space

The collaboration offers a holistic approach to spacesuit design, leveraging Prada's expertise in packaging fabrics for improved mobility. The use of composites for parts of the suit, such as the torso and pants, is also being explored to reduce weight. 

"When you're going to space, mass is king, so this can be a huge advantage for us." - Michael Suffredini, Chief Executive of Axiom Space

The partnership between Axiom Space and Prada began with exploratory discussions in Italy, where Axiom learned of Prada's technological prowess.

"Our first meeting was very interesting because we were really talking about ideas about how to work together. We didn't really know exactly what those would be...I'm sure in the future we will have bigger projects to work together on." - Michael Suffredini, Chief Executive of Axiom Space

"I am excited to see what the ultimate design looks like with the creativity of Prada involved. It's going to look very unique compared to what spacesuits formerly looked like." - Michael Suffredini, Chief Executive of Axiom Space

The companies have released only limited glimpses of the suit, leaving space enthusiasts eagerly anticipating the final design.

While the partnership could extend to other projects, including Axiom's plans for a commercial space station, the immediate focus remains on the development of the spacesuit. 

The spacesuit is being developed for NASA under a $228.5 million task order awarded in September 2022 as part of the Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services program.