In a groundbreaking collaboration, luxury fashion house Prada has joined forces with American space venture Axiom Space to create a revolutionary space suit designed for NASA’s Artemis program. This ambitious project aims to achieve a historic first: the landing of the first woman and person of color on the Moon. The Artemis program, set to launch as early as September 2026, marks the return of human presence on the lunar surface since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. NASA entrusted Axiom Space with overseeing the development of the Extravehicular Activity (EVA) units for the Artemis program, and Axiom Space, in turn, sought the design expertise of Prada.
This innovative collaboration marks a new era in space exploration, where industries previously considered separate are coming together to push the boundaries of what’s possible. Russell Ralston, Axiom Space’s Vice President of Extravehicular Activity, highlighted this shift in a statement preceding the space suit’s unveiling: “We are entering a new era of space exploration, and for the first time, we are leveraging expertise from other industries to create better space solutions.”
Spearheading this endeavor for Prada is Lorenzo Bertelli, the Chief Marketing Officer and Head of CSR for the Prada Group. He shared his perspective on the partnership with *Vogue*, stating, “This partnership with Axiom Space has been unprecedented. We are proud of our team for their dedication to providing a bespoke solution that enhances the comfort and flexibility of the spacesuit.”
While the revealed images of the space suit don’t prominently display the Prada logo, a series of bold red lines are prominent throughout the suit’s silhouette. This design detail echoes the aesthetic of Prada’s technical sports line, “Linea Rossa”, which was initially developed for the America’s Cup sailing team, “Luna Rossa” (Italian for “Red Moon”).
The collaborative efforts of Prada and Axiom Space focused primarily on the outer layer and materials of the suit. Upon arriving on the Moon, astronauts will don the spacesuit, which is specifically designed to withstand the extreme temperatures of the lunar south pole and the frigid conditions of the permanently shadowed regions, allowing for at least two hours of exploration. The suit will also facilitate at least eight hours of spacewalking.
While functionality remains paramount in space suit development, Axiom Space engineers sought to create a visually captivating suit that reflects the future of space exploration. They saw Prada’s renowned expertise as the perfect avenue to achieve this goal, stating, “Prada’s expertise has enabled high-level technology and innovative tailoring. It combines advanced engineered functionality with a captivating outer design.”
Prada’s foray into space through fashion is just a piece of the larger puzzle that is the Artemis program. NASA, alongside private partners like Axiom Space, Prada, and SpaceX (the aerospace manufacturer responsible for the Human Landing System (HLS), is establishing transport technologies and protocols that will eventually enable missions to Mars.
Bertelli acknowledges this long-term vision: “We are proposing to Axiom Space interesting solutions that can be applied to spacesuits, such as new weaving technologies using high-performance yarns and almost seamless production methods.”
Although the crew for this mission has not yet been announced, NASA has publicly stated that the Artemis program will prioritize inclusivity by landing the first woman and person of color on the Moon, a groundbreaking achievement for humanity. Should this plan come to fruition, it will mark the first time a human has set foot on the Moon since December 1972, when Apollo 17’s commander, Eugene Cernan, made his final steps.
From Apollo 11 astronauts Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong’s historic first lunar landing in 1969, a total of 12 individuals walked on the Moon within a span of just three and a half years until the final Apollo 17 mission. Will we see astronauts wearing Prada on the Moon in the near future, just two years from now?