What Went Into Manufacturing The Prada Spacesuit?

Designer fashion manufacturer Prada and Axiom, the creator of the first commercial orbital station, have partnered up to produce NASA's new spacesuits for the Artemis III lunar mission,. 

This is the first crewed Moon landing mission since the December 1972 Apollo 17 mission.

It will also be the first time a woman and a person of colour set foot on the moon. 

The spacesuit was revealed during the 75th edition of the International Astronautical Congress, hosted in Milan and organised by the International Astronautical Federation (IAF). 

It was unveiled on October 18th as a public installation at the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, operating as an extension of the IAC event in the heart of the city.

The Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit represents the absolute best in manufacturing technology, innovation and creativity and signals the growth of the burgeoning space market. 

Prada engineers and designers worked side by side with the Axiom Space team, both sides harnessing their expertise in raw materials and manufacturing to create a suit capable of protecting astronauts from the harsh environment of space.

This suit will enable human exploration of the lunar south pole for the first time time in history.

"In collaboration with Prada, a champion of innovation and craftsmanship and Axiom Space, a leader in space technology, the AxEMU represents the fusion of two giants in their respective fields," said Manlio Di Stefano, Axiom Space's Senior Strategic Advisor on LinkedIn.

"Prada brings its expertise in advanced textiles, crucial for withstanding the extreme conditions of space (especially the South Pole of the Moon), while Axiom Space has integrated a modular, redundant life support system that can keep astronauts safe for up to eight hours."

This suit highlights the incredible manufacturing innovation that enables space exploration.

Making spacesuits is an immensely complex and expensive process, that requires highly-specific materials and scientific knowledge.

Making a spacesuit 'space-friendly'

Spacesuits are essential for astronauts' safety in space, providing life support and protection from its harsh conditions. 

To be effective, spacesuits need to meet several critical requirements, both in terms of design and materials.

Here's an overview of what spacesuits need to be safe and how they are made:

Pressure and oxygen supply

In space there is no atmospheric pressure, so a spacesuit must maintain stable pressure around the astronaut's body.

Spacesuits are pressurised to simulate the air pressure at around 10,000 to 12,000 feet on Earth.

They also supply oxygen for breathing and remove exhaled carbon dioxide.

Thermal regulation

Space environments experience extreme temperature fluctuations, from -250°F (-157°C) in the shade to 250°F (121°C) in sunlight.

Spacesuits must protect astronauts from these extremes.

They do this through layered insulation and temperature control systems that either retain or release heat as needed.

Radiation protection

Spacesuits must protect astronauts from cosmic radiation and harmful solar rays, including ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Special coatings and materials, such as reflective outer layers, help shield astronauts from radiation exposure.

Micrometeoroid protection

Space is filled with tiny particles (micrometeoroids) traveling at high speeds that can cause serious damage. 

Spacesuits are reinforced with a tough outer exterior to protect against these high-velocity impacts.

Mobility and dexterity

Despite being pressurised and heavily insulated, spacesuits need to allow astronauts enough flexibility to move, perform tasks and handle tools.

Suits need to have articulating joints and gloves with enhanced dexterity to make movement in space possible.

Life support and communication systems

Spacesuits are equipped with a portable life support system (PLSS) that provides oxygen, regulates temperature and removes carbon dioxide and moisture.

Spacesuits must also be able to support communication systems, so astronauts can stay in contact with mission control.

Visor and eye protection

The helmet's visor must shield astronauts' eyes from the sun's intense light and harmful UV radiation.

Visors often have gold-coated layers to reflect sunlight and include a sunshade to reduce glare.

Materials used in spacesuit construction

In order to regulate and protect the areas above, spacesuits are made of highly specific materials.

The inside of a spacesuit is kind of like an onion, multi-layered with each material layer serving a distinctive protective purpose.

Here are the layers that make up that onion: 

Thermal Micrometeoroid Garment (TMG)

This outer layer is made of several materials that protect against micrometeoroids, radiation and temperature extremes.

Common materials include Nomex, which is flame-resistant, Kevlar which is used for it's impact-resistant properties and Mylar a reflective material used for thermal insulation.

Pressure layer

Beneath the TMG is a rubberized pressure bladder made from materials like urethane-coated nylon.

This layer maintains the suit’s pressurisation, simulating Earth-like atmospheric conditions inside the suit.

Restraint layer

To prevent the suit from ballooning when pressurised, a restraint layer made of Dacron or other synthetic fibers is included.

This keeps the suit’s shape intact whilst providing flexibility.

Cooling garment

Underneath the restraint and pressure layers, astronauts wear a Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (LCVG).

This garment circulates water through tubes across the body to regulate temperature. It helps remove excess heat and prevents overheating during space activities.

Gloves

The gloves are often custom-fitted and are one of the most complex parts of the suit.

They are reinforced with materials like Kevlar to protect against micrometeoroid impacts while maintaining enough dexterity to use tools.

Helmet and visor

The helmet is made of durable polycarbonate or similar materials, providing impact resistance, visibility and protection from vacuum.

The visor often has a gold coating to reflect harmful sunlight.

Each spacesuit undergoes extensive testing to ensure it can withstand the extreme conditions of space.

This includes pressure tests, temperature simulations, radiation exposure assessments and tests for mobility in low gravity.

Spacesuits are custom-designed for specific missions, such as those used on the International Space Station (ISS) or NASA's upcoming lunar missions like the Artemis program.

Each one is an engineering marvel, that keeps astronauts safe, enables them to carry out missions and furthers space exploration.

The spacesuit by Prada and Axiom is a marvel too, one that goes above and beyond in terms of technology.

Key features of the Prada x Axiom spacesuit

"Today marks a historic moment in space exploration with the unveiling of the AxEMU spacesuit, designed for Artemis missions," Manlio adds.

"This is not just a new suit, but a monumental leap forward from the technology used during the Apollo missions.

"The AxEMU is engineered to provide unmatched flexibility, mobility and safety, ensuring that astronauts can move and operate with a new level of ease, whether during Extra Vehicular Activities (EVAs) or on the lunar surface and beyond."

"In addition to these innovations, the suit includes a regenerative CO2 scrubbing system, critical system redundancy and cellular communication capabilities. The modular, evolvable design ensures that the suit can be adapted for future missions," Manlio adds.

"This suit isn’t just about safety - it’s about making every astronaut feel comfortable and in control, a significant leap from the limitations of previous suits. Every human being behind this technology will feel a new sense of empowerment."

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