Prada’s next runway walk will literally be out of this world, as the designer brand will soon help design spacesuits for the Artemis III mission to the moon in 2025.
The expensive designer brand has been contracted by NASA to make the suits astronauts will wear to the moon – the first visit to the lunar surface since 1972.
The contract is a collaboration between the Italian company and Axiom Space, which has been contracted to help modernize the suits and make them more comfortable.
The first versions of the suit were released in March and officials said it was designed to fit perfectly for both women and men – a necessary detail for the 2025 mission.
The Artemis III mission is expected to be the first time in history that a woman and a person of color will walk on the moon.
Prada’s next runway walk will literally be out of this world, as the designer brand will soon help design spacesuits for the Artemis III mission to the moon in 2025
The astronauts on Artemis III were named by NASA earlier this year as Jeremy Hansen, Victor Glover, Commander Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch
In March, Axiom Space and NASA unveiled these suits designed specifically for the Artemis III mission to the moon in 2025
According to Reuters, Prada engineers will help develop “solutions for materials and design features to protect astronauts from the challenge of space.”
Axiom also praised Prada for its use of materials, citing its expertise in this area as another reason for the deal.
Prada – a more than 100-year-old fashion house – is best known for their expensive bags and clothing items that can sell for thousands of dollars.
In a joint statement, the companies said Prada’s goal will also be to make the suits more comfortable for the suits for the four astronauts being launched into orbit.
So were the astronauts on Artemis III named by NASA earlier this year as Jeremy Hansen, Victor Glover, Commander Reid Wiseman and Christina Koch.
Houston-based Axiom was awarded a contract by NASA last year in an effort to modernize previous spacesuits.
In the past, suits were specifically designed for the male body and included thick fabrics and heavier equipment.
A statement from NASA said they support the partnership between NASA and Axiom as the deal will ensure the new suits meet critical safety standards.
According to Reuters, Prada engineers will help develop ‘solutions for materials and design features to protect astronauts from the challenge of space’
The contract is a collaboration between the Italian company and Axiom Space, which has been contracted to help modernize the suits and make them more comfortable
Earlier this year, NASA unveiled the prototype of the new spacesuit that would be worn to the moon by Artemis III astronauts.
Astronauts will be able to walk in the new Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit, rather than ‘bunny hop’ like their predecessors, allowing them to bend down and pick up things above their heads.
The innovative gear, made from Mylar and Kevlar, features a new “helmet bubble,” boots made explicitly for moon walking and a wearable life support system.
The above-mentioned system is ‘like a luxury diving tank and air conditioning combined.’
Mike Suffredini, president and CEO, said in a statement at the time: “We are continuing NASA’s legacy by designing an advanced space suit that will allow astronauts to operate safely and effectively on the moon.
“Axiom Space’s Artemis III space suit will be ready to tackle the complex challenges of the moon’s south pole and help advance our understanding of the moon to enable a long-term presence there.”
The AxEMU spacesuit unveiled at Space Center Houston’s Moon 2 Mars Festival is a prototype, with a fleet of training spacesuits delivered over the summer.
The Axiom contract to design the suit is worth a whopping $228.5 million.
Lara Kearney, who oversees the program at NASA and ensures Axiom meets requirements, said: “It’s going to give us a really good indication of how mobile the suit is and what kind of fatigue the crew members will feel. after six or seven hours of work.’
Axiom also used modern technology to construct the suit, using laser cutters to cut up fabric and 3D printers to build certain components.
And while the suit is the most fashionable yet, it’s designed to survive.
Russell Ralston, EVA deputy program manager at Axiom Space, said, “I go to church with astronauts. We see them when we go shopping. We know their children.’
‘The product you make, their lives will depend on it. So it’s something that we take very seriously,” he continued.