NASA’s Spacesuits Get a Couture Upgrade by Prada

Prada’s first spacesuits are taking style to a new level. The Italian luxury brand has revealed the final version of the gear that the Artemis III crew will wear when they stroll on the moon in 2026. Axiom Space, which teamed up with Prada for this project, showcased the extravehicular mobility unit spacesuit (AxEMU) on Wednesday in Milan, about a year after teasing an early version. The new spacesuits are designed to fit a diverse group of crew members, including both men and women and will be worn by the first woman and the first person of color to set foot on the moon as part of the Artemis mission.

With around 10 Prada employees lending their expertise to the project, the sporty AxEMU suit has been in the works for years. Visually, the suit features patches of gray with striking red stripes thoughtfully placed on the forearms, waist and life support backpack. Fans of Prada might notice that this bold scarlet detail is reminiscent of the brand’s ready-to-wear line, Linea Rossa. 

“Going beyond our limits is one of the company’s values that perfectly reflects the spirit of the Prada brand and my parents’ vision. 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,” said Lorenzo Betelli, CMO of Prada Group and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, in the joint statement. “We’ve shared our expertise on high-performance materials, features and sewing techniques and we learned a lot”, he added.

When it comes to practicality, these unisex, one-size-fits-all suits are designed in white to handle extreme heat and protect astronauts from the cold and lunar dust. The design includes a helmet and visor to shield against solar radiation and improve visibility, along with custom gloves and boots that will allow astronauts to spend up to eight hours outside the spacecraft. NASA’s Artemis III mission, set to launch in just two years, aims to land four astronauts on the moon. If all goes well, this will mark the first crewed lunar landing since Apollo 17 in 1972.

“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,” said Axiom Space President, Matt Ondler. “We have broken the mold. The Axiom Space-Prada partnership has set a new foundational model for cross-industry collaboration, further expanding what’s possible in commercial space.”

Prada and Axiom’s AxEMU suit, set for NASA’s upcoming moon mission, can also be adjusted for use in low-Earth orbit, much like the SpaceX suits from the Polaris Dawn flight. Interestingly, China has also revealed its plans to send astronauts to the moon, showcasing the suits designed for lunar walks. These suits feature red accents, similar to Prada’s design. However, China’s crewed mission isn’t expected to take off until 2030.