Prada It is synonymous with fashion and luxury, but it will soon also leave its mark on the return of astronauts to the Moon. The renowned Italian firm will help Axiom Space design the spacesuits that will be used on NASA’s Artemis III missionwhich will take place in 2025.
The choice of Prada to collaborate on the project sounds unusual, but it makes a lot of sense. The company is not limited to designing high-level clothing, but also has an engineering department that is responsible for studying new materials and their application in the field of fashion.
While Axiom Space has already shown off a prototype of the spacesuits that will be used on the Artemis missions, it still has a lot of work to do. According to the company, Prada will help them to implement the outer layer of the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU).
The Italians will work to ensure that the “skin” of the suit that NASA astronauts will wear on their return to the Moon is resistant enough, but without sacrificing comfort and maneuverability.
Michael Suffredini, CEO of Axiom Space, highlighted the importance of Prada’s contribution to completing his vision for Artemis III. “Prada’s technical expertise with raw materials, manufacturing techniques and innovative design concepts will provide advanced technologies that will be instrumental in ensuring not only the comfort of astronauts on the lunar surface, but also the much-needed considerations of human factors absent in the lunar surface.” old space suits,” he said.
Artemis III wears Prada
That Prada is one of the most famous fashion brands in the world does not mean that its contribution to the spacesuits of the future Artemis missions is with extravagant designs, or anything like that. In fact, the company has significant experience in the use of composite materials that has been applied outside the catwalks.
In the 1990s, for example, Prada designed and manufactured its own yacht with a carbon fiber hull to participate in the America’s Cup, the world’s most important sailing competition. Since then, she has remained very active on this front with the Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli team.
The Italian brand’s knowledge of different raw materials is crucial to giving the final touch to its spacesuits, says Axiom Space. The CEO of the aerospace firm told Space News that Prada’s skills can help the AxEMU be lighter. Especially if you can adapt the use of composite materials in crucial sections of the torso and pants.
From Prada, meanwhile, they have been proud to take on this challenge:
“Prada’s constantly progressive spirit for humanity has expanded to its desire for adventure and facing new horizons: space. Our decades of experimentation, cutting-edge technology and design know-how […] They will now be applied to the development of a spacesuit for the era of Artemis. “It is a true celebration of the power of human creativity and innovation to advance civilization.”
Lorenzo Bertelli, marketing director of the Prada Group.
Axiom Space’s spacesuits
Originally, NASA would design the spacesuits for the return of astronauts to the Moon with the Artemis missions. However, in 2022 it announced that Axiom Space would be in charge of this work. Last March, meanwhile, the company presented the first prototype of the AxEMU, black in color and with orange trim. However, the company indicated that the final version would be white to reflect heat.
With the announcement of the collaboration with Prada, the company has shared new images of the prototype with what would be its final color. It is not yet known when the final Artemis III spacesuits will be ready. Even so, it is logical to think that they should be finished well in advance to subject them to rigorous testing.
Following the success of Artemis I, NASA plans to launch Artemis II in 2024. This mission will be manned and will orbit the Moon before returning to Earth. If the calendar does not suffer delays, Artemis III will reach the natural satellite of our planet at the end of 2025with its astronauts wearing Axiom Space and Prada spacesuits.