Axiom Space, a human spaceflight services provider, has unveiled the flight design of its Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit in collaboration with luxury brand Prada. The spacesuit is being created for NASA's Artemis lunar landing missions, with the first use planned for Artemis 3.

The AxEMU spacesuit has a white outer layer to reflect heat and protect astronauts from extreme temperatures and lunar dust. It offers increased mobility, greater redundancy, and health monitoring systems compared to Apollo-era suits. The suit can accommodate a wide range of crew members and is designed to withstand extreme temperatures at the lunar south pole for extended periods.

Axiom Space claims that the partnership with Prada brought stability to the spacesuit supply chain, particularly in fabric development. The collaboration also enhanced the suit's aesthetic appeal and enabled the application of advanced technologies and innovative sewing methods, potentially improving overall performance and astronaut comfort.

Analyst QuickTake: In October 2023 , Axiom Space and Prada collaborated to begin the development of the spacesuits for NASA astronauts. Prada contributed its expertise in soft goods and composite materials to support Axiom Space in designing the outer layers of the spacesuits. Following this, in August 2024 , Axiom Space partnered with Nokia to incorporate wireless high-speed communication technologies into the Artemis spacesuits.