Prada and Axiom reveal the garment for moonwalks

Cold water circulates along the body of the astronaut through a network of pipes. It cools muscles, promotes ventilation and works together with systems that bring oxygen and remove carbon dioxide. It’s the boss who astronauts they will wear under the suit during future lunar missions.

Axiom Space e Prada they presented today the Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (LCVG)the garment intended to be worn by astronauts inside the new generation space suit Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU). This is the high-performance internal layer developed to protect astronauts during the exploration of the lunar surface, which humanity is preparing to reach again for the first time in over fifty years.

Prada’s contribution to the spacesuit

The Milanese fashion house has made available its experience in knitting techniques, design and the development of advanced materials to create one of the key elements of the new spacesuit. After contributing to the development of the outer layer of the AxEMUPrada has extended its work to the design of the layer closest to the astronaut’s body, on which they depend thermoregulationcomfort and reliability during extravehicular activities.

Collaboration between industry and design

“The future of space exploration will not be built by a single entity, and our collaboration with Prada is proof of this,” he said Jonathan CirtainCEO and president of Axiom Space. “By combining the best of aerospace engineering with excellent craftsmanship and advanced product design, we have created a garment that neither company could have made alone. It is exactly this type of cross-industry approach that will define the next era of human spaceflight.”

Development of LCVG technology

The collaboration between the two companies was announced in 2024 with the development of the AxEMU outer layer, designed to withstand the extreme thermal variations and micrometeorite-rich environment of the lunar South Pole. The joint work has now extended to LCVGthe level closest to the astronaut’s body, designed with 3D modeling techniques and capable of ensuring cooling and ventilation during extravehicular activities for up to eight hours. Prada’s expertise in high performance materials it also contributed to the selection of technical fibers that allow the repeated use of the garment in long-duration missions.

Statements and future vision

“When we introduced the AxEMU, we announced that the collaboration between Prada and Axiom Space would continue beyond that first milestone. Today we are proud to present a new achievement, born from the unique combination of Axiom Space’s pioneering knowledge and Prada’s know-how in design, modeling and advanced materials, serving the return of humanity to the lunar surface,” he said Lorenzo BertelliChief Marketing Officer and Head of Sustainability of the Prada Group. “We look forward to the continuation of this collaboration with Axiom Space, continuing to push our respective boundaries and explore new frontiers together.”

Operation of the cooling system

During extravehicular activities the astronauts’ body generates a considerable amount of metabolic heat. The LCVG allows cold water to be circulated through a network of tubes distributed along major muscle groups, absorbing heat and transferring it to the suit’s portable life support system, from which it is then dissipated into space. Unlike traditional cooling systems, Axiom Space’s LCVG integrates a fully redundant cooling circuit, ensuring the availability of a backup system in the event of a main circuit failure.

Role in lunar missions

When astronauts will return to the Moon as part of the mission Artemis IV from the NASAthe LCVG will be one of the few layers of protection between them and the hostile environment of space. The garment also performs a ventilation function: a separate circuit conveys fresh oxygen on the astronaut’s face and eliminates thecarbon dioxide exhaled. The gas is then redirected to the life support system, where the CO is removed before the oxygen is recirculated again.

Performance and security

“For every minute astronauts spend outside the vehicle, the LCVG must work to keep them safe,” he said Russell RalstonSenior Vice President of Spacecraft Development at Axiom Space. “It manages their thermal environment, supports breathing, and does so as astronauts push their bodies to the limit. The work we did together with Prada took these capabilities to a level we couldn’t have achieved alone.”

Title: Prada and Axiom, innovative lunar suit
Summary: AxEMU leader protects astronauts during lunar exploration
Slug: monthly loot