AxEMU architecture aims to be evolvable for missions beyond the Moon, including low Earth orbit and commercial space stations, ensuring versatility for government and private missions.

Prada’s seamless knit construction with embedded cooling channels offers structural and aesthetic advantages over older thread-based designs.

The collaboration is pitched as a proof of concept for scalable human spaceflight, with planned formal qualification, Johnson Space Center tests, vacuum and thermal vacuum evaluations, and an in-space demonstration on the ISS next year.

Prada has unveiled a new inner-layer Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (LCVG) developed with Axiom Space, marking the luxury brand’s entry into spacewear for NASA astronauts.

The AxEMU suits are designed to support moonwalks and are undergoing testing, with possible demonstrations on the International Space Station and a role in Artemis 3, though Artemis 3 will not land on the Moon.

Experts note that space product development benefits from cross-industry insights, blending fashion, engineering, and aerospace know-how.

The LCVG includes a fully redundant cooling circuit, ensuring continued operation if the primary loop fails, a critical feature for lunar operations.

A backup cooling system is integrated to address reliability concerns in the harsh lunar environment and to enhance mission safety.

Design choices, such as a white outer color, reflect heat and improve visibility in the extreme temperature differentials of the lunar south pole.

Axiom emphasizes the LCVG as a crucial layer for thermal regulation and life-support integration between the astronaut and the space environment.

Ground testing of the LCVG and related components has progressed through multiple iterations, with space-based testing to serve as the definitive assessment.

The garment supports a sustained lunar economy by enabling a capable, reliable spacesuit architecture, with the AxEMU forming part of a broader EVA system designed for extreme conditions.