Prada and Axiom Space Unveil Spacesuit for NASA’s Artemis III Moon Mission
In an exciting collaboration, Italian luxury fashion brand Prada and US startup Axiom Space have revealed a new spacesuit design for NASA’s Artemis Moon exploration program. This spacesuit, known as the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU), will be used in the Artemis III mission, marking the first crewed Moon landing since 1972.
Spacesuit Unveiling
The AxEMU was unveiled at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan and will be displayed at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. Prada’s expertise in materials and design played a crucial role in developing a suit that protects astronauts from space’s harsh conditions, enabling exploration of the lunar south pole.
Design and Features
The white suit with red and grey stripes is unisex and adaptable for different sizes. It reflects Prada’s design ethos, similar to their Luna Rossa America’s Cup boat. The suit is designed to reflect heat and protect against lunar dust, allowing astronauts to perform spacewalks for up to eight hours.
Collaboration and Testing
Matt Ondler, Axiom Space President, highlighted the innovative partnership with Prada, which has set a new standard for cross-industry collaboration. The AxEMU has undergone extensive testing, including underwater simulations at NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory and reduced gravity tests at NASA’s Johnson Space Centre.
Future of Space Exploration
The Artemis III mission, planned for 2026, aims to land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon. Axiom Space, also the architect of the world’s first commercial space station, has iteratively improved the spacesuit over two years to support this mission.
Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group Chief Marketing Officer, expressed pride in the collaboration, emphasizing the brand’s commitment to pushing boundaries and exploring new challenges.
Doubts Revealed
Prada -: Prada is a famous fashion brand from Italy known for making stylish clothes and accessories. They are helping to design the new spacesuit for astronauts.
Axiom Space -: Axiom Space is a company that works on space missions and technology. They are collaborating with Prada to create the new spacesuit for NASA’s mission.
NASA -: NASA is the United States government agency responsible for space exploration and research. They are planning the Artemis III mission to the Moon.
Artemis III -: Artemis III is a mission planned by NASA to land astronauts on the Moon. It will be the first time humans have landed on the Moon since 1972.
International Astronautical Congress -: The International Astronautical Congress is a big event where people from around the world discuss space exploration. The new spacesuit was shown there.
AxEMU -: AxEMU stands for Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit. It’s the name of the new spacesuit designed for astronauts to wear on the Moon.
Lunar south pole -: The lunar south pole is the southernmost part of the Moon. It’s a special area because it might have water ice, which is important for future space missions.
