Elegance on the moon.. “Prada” enters the world of designing astronaut suits
Have you ever wondered who is responsible for designing astronaut suits? Is it really one of the largest and most famous international fashion houses that will carry out this task?
Yes, what you read is absolutely correct; The Italian luxury products group "Prada" and the emerging "Axiom Space" company based in Texas, United States, revealed in an official statement, a few days ago, that they will cooperate in designing space suits for the "Artemis 3" mission on the moon of the American Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which is scheduled for... Year 2025.
The "Artemis 3" mission will be of great importance, as it will witness the first landing of a manned crew in more than 50 years, making it the first time that a crew has landed on the surface of the moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. The flight will also witness the first time that... A woman and a person of non-European descent set foot on the moon, and thus Christina Koch will become the first woman to land on the moon.
Preliminary spacesuit design by Prada - Source: NASA
Prada Prada designs NASA astronaut suits
According to Reuters, the two companies said in a joint statement that “Prada engineers will work with the systems team at Axiom Space throughout the design process, and will develop solutions for materials and design properties to protect astronauts from the challenges of the lunar environment.”
Indeed, Axiom has contracted with NASA to develop space suits for use on the Moon, among other space programs. So from now on, NASA astronauts will be flying in style, in Prada-branded suits.
Speaking to the BBC, one of the astronauts said that he believed that Prada was up to the challenge due to its extensive experience in design, and the suits were not only displayed on the catwalks in Milan, but also through Prada’s participation in America's Cup Sailing Competition.
Professor Jeffrey Hoffman, who has flown on five NASA missions and carried out four spacewalks, told the BBC about this unique collaboration: “Prada has great experience in dealing with different types of complex fabrics. "She may be able to make some technical contributions to the outer layer of the new spacesuit."
Also, according to Lorenzo Bertelli, who holds the position of marketing director at “Prada,” the company’s culture is rooted in something more than just fashion, which allows it to create high-tech products, citing the expertise that “Prada” has acquired in the field of materials. The vehicle during the formation of the Luna Rossa yachting team for the America's Cup.
Prada astronaut suit allows bending - Source: NASA & AxEMU
Prada space suit specifications
Prada did not mention in its statement the specifications of the suit to be designed specifically for the upcoming Artemis 3 mission. However, earlier this year, 2023, the company "Axiom" unveiled some specifications of the space suit to be designed, saying that it weighs 55 kg and is better suited for women.
Then, in a subsequent press release, Artemis and Prada said they would use “innovative technologies and designs” to allow greater exploration of the lunar surface than ever before.
For his part, Michael Suffredini, CEO of Axiom Space, said in a press release: “We are pleased to partner with Prada to design the spacesuit for the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU).”
Luxury and complete elegance, of course, are not the only goal for Prada in this particular mission. Its engineers must create luxurious space clothing whose main feature is maintaining a good thermal environment. In reality, the space suit is nothing but a miniature spacecraft. It must provide the astronaut with reasonable pressure, oxygen, and temperature, in addition to being comfortable and practical to suit the mission for which it was specially designed.
So for the third Artemis mission, Prada will primarily focus on designing the outer layer of the spacesuit. This outer layer must be strong enough to withstand abrasive lunar dust, while at the same time providing smooth movement for astronauts.
In this regard, “Suffredini” stressed that “Prada’s” technical expertise in the field of raw materials, manufacturing techniques, and innovative design concepts will bring advanced technologies that are useful, not only in ensuring the comfort of astronauts on the surface of the moon, but also considerations of human factors that are intensified. A need for it, which is absent in old spacesuits.
The new AxEMU suits contain specialized tools and design elements that will give astronauts greater capabilities for space exploration and scientific research, while protecting them from the harsh environment so that they can live and work on and around the moon.
The prototype spacesuit designed by Prada shows the current white skin of the Axiom Space Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU). A prototype of "AxEMU" was unveiled in dark gray and orange last March, but the company confirmed that the final version will be white.
In the "Artemis" mission, astronauts need to move freely so they can explore the rugged terrain of the moon, and this will be done through a suit that allows more flexibility of movement, while remaining strong enough to protect the astronaut who is scheduled to walk, bend, and pick up objects in the space. Space inside his suit instead of jumping around like a rabbit.
Photo of NASA astronauts - Source: NASA
Manufacture of astronaut suits and their costs
Astronaut suits have come a long way since they were first manufactured, and now the suit will carry the Prada logo and has a more flexible structure with gloves.
In general, there are 3 countries specialized in producing astronaut clothing: Russia, the United States of America, and Japan.
According to NASA, a spacesuit consists of six different components and can contain up to 16 layers. Before the spacesuits reach the moon, parts of them are tested on the International Space Station.
The uniform consists of tubes that circulate water around the astronaut, regulate body temperature, and remove excess heat as they complete their work.
Each spacesuit contains a portable life support system, which includes a water tank for cooling suits, a carbon dioxide removal system and more, according to NASA.
The costume also includes a two-way radio system so the astronauts can communicate. There are unique colored stripes on the outside of the space suit, which allows astronauts to recognize their colleagues when in space.
Regarding the costs of designing and manufacturing spacesuits, over the past four years, NASA explained that it invested more than $300 million in developing the xEMU spacesuit, as the team tested dozens of components and evaluated the advantages and disadvantages of each option.
NASA hired AxEMU Space in June 2022 to build its latest space suits after revealing that it had spent $420 million since 2017 trying to develop its own suits.
Historically, NASA previously revealed in 1974 that space suits were expensive, and that it spent between 15 and 20 million dollars on them at that time.
Source: websites