Prada and Axiom Unveil The Moon’s Next-Generation Cooling Spacesuit

Astronauts heading to the Moon as part of NASA’s Artemis program will soon don a cutting‑edge undergarment. A partnership between luxury fashion house Prada and commercial space firm Axiom Space introduced a liquid‑cooling and ventilation layer intended for the upcoming AxEMU suits. The piece merges high‑performance life‑support capabilities with a distinctive design aesthetic, hinting at a future where aerospace engineering and couture intersect.

Enhanced Thermal Management for Lunar Missions

The latest iteration of the undergarment offers substantial improvements over its predecessors, featuring internal pathways that circulate chilled fluid to regulate body heat amid the lunar environment.

“This is the garment that astronauts wear inside the suit,” Axiom Space Senior Vice President Russell Ralston told Space.com during a press event at Prada on June 7. “It provides them comfort, cooling, and those kinds of things … really proud of the design.”

In addition to heat regulation, the garment incorporates expanded tubing that routes breathable air across the astronaut’s face before distributing it through the suit, facilitating effective removal of exhaled carbon dioxide and replenishment of oxygen. “Providing carbon dioxide management as they exhale, and providing oxygen back to the astronauts as they inhale,” notes Jonathan Cirtain, Axiom Space’s chief executive, highlighting the dual role of the layer as both life‑support system and technological advance.

Fashionable Functionality in Space Gear

Departing from conventional designs, the underlayer was intentionally styled. Cirtain observed, “It’s not oftentimes that astrophysics [and] aeronautics develops things that are aesthetically pleasing,” adding that despite its stylish appearance, the piece remains a safety‑critical component.

Design cues from Prada appear in features such as a V‑neck cut, thumb‑hole sleeves, stirrup‑style trousers and a distinctive red accent, giving the garment a look comparable to premium athletic wear. These aesthetic choices also serve practical goals: a modular build enables tailored sizing, straightforward part swaps and enhanced heat dispersion, merging couture know‑how with the strict requirements of extraterrestrial missions.

Suiting Up for the Lunar South Pole

Combined with the new underlayer, the AxEMU suits target operations at the Moon’s south pole, the landing zone for Artemis 4. Surface temperatures there can fluctuate by more than 400 °F between sunlit and shaded areas, a range that exceeded the capabilities of Apollo‑era equipment. Rigorous testing that mimics lunar gravity and thermal extremes has been conducted to verify that crew members stay protected and operational in such harsh conditions.

Initial assessments could take place aboard the International Space Station, offering a safe platform to confirm system performance prior to lunar deployment. Additionally, NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory will enable astronauts to rehearse maneuvers in the suit within a water‑filled environment that simulates the Moon’s reduced gravity.