Prada and Axiom Space design new NASA spacesuits for 2026 moon landing: NPR

The new suits are designed to make astronauts safe and flexible as America looks to innovate its lunar exploration.

Image courtesy of Prada / Axiom Space/Image courtesy of Prada / Axiom Space

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Image courtesy of Prada / Axiom Space/Image courtesy of Prada / Axiom Space

NASA's new spacesuits are backed by Italian luxury fashion house Prada in preparation for humanity's return to the lunar surface in 2026.

Axiom Space and Prada unveiled the flight design of the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan this week.

The suit is expected to be deployed for NASA's historic Artemis III mission in 2026, marking humanity's first return to the moon since 1972.

“Our elite teams have redefined spacesuit development, creating new avenues for innovative solutions and applying a cutting-edge design approach to the AxEMU,” said Matt Ondler, president of Axiom Space. “We have set new standards.”

Design for the Axiom Space, a spacesuit by Prada that will be used by the first woman and person of color to land on the moon.

Image courtesy of Prada / Axiom Space/Image courtesy of Prada / Axiom Space

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The modernized suits are primarily intended to ensure the safety of astronauts in the harsh space environment improved mobility from earlier designs as a close second order.

In its release announcing the suit designs, Axiom Space said the suits feature improved flexibility, performance and safety, and provide specialized tools for scientist missions.

The suit is one size fits all and includes lighting, an HD camera, 4G/LTE communications and in-suit nutrition.

“It will withstand the extreme temperatures at the Moon's south pole and withstand the coldest temperatures in the permanently shadowed regions for at least two hours.” “Astronauts will be able to perform spacewalks for at least eight hours,” says the press release announcing the new design is announced.

America has long dreamed of returning its astronauts to the moon, but the U.S. space program has suffered from technical delays and a lack of funding.

In 2019, the Trump administration directed NASA to land humans on the Moon's unexplored southern lunar pole by 2024, with the ultimate goal of eventually landing an Earthling on Mars.

However, the program was delayed in part due to Failure to meet Develop design criteria for spacesuits in a timely manner.

After the launch of the Artemis III mission, the first woman and the first person of color will cross the lunar surface in low gravity.

Axiom Space said the suit is nearing its final stage of development and has already completed a critical pressure simulation, the first since Project Apollo.