NASA is putting humans on the Moon again in 2026; those astronauts need suits for the return. Axiom Space and Prada unveiled the space suits for the Artemis III mission at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan, Italy.

Axiom Space and Prada collaborated to design the suit’s outer layer, combining creativity and engineering to enhance the next-generation spacesuit design. They call it the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit.

“Our elite teams have redefined spacesuit development, establishing new pathways to innovative solutions and applying a state-of-the-art design approach for the AxEMU,” said Matt Ondler, Axiom Space President. “We have broken the mold,” he said. “The Axiom Space-Prada partnership has set a new foundational model for cross-industry collaboration, further expanding what’s possible in commercial space.”

Spacesuit Details

The design and features of the Artemis III spacesuits; Photo: Axiom Space

The Artemis III crew needed strong suits to withstand the extreme conditions of the lunar south pole. Axiom believes they have that now. According to the company, the AxEMU suits will withstand the extreme temperatures of the lunar area and endure 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.

In addition, they are equipped with specialized tools to help astronauts explore the lunar south pole. Other features include carbon dioxide scrubbing systems and cooling technology to remove heat from the systems. Additionally, the visors and helmets have improved from previous years, which gives astronauts a better view of their surroundings.

The spacesuit architecture includes life support systems, pressure garments, avionics and other innovative systems to meet exploration needs and expand scientific opportunities. Axiom Space developed the AxEMU using a single, foundational architecture. The architecture is evolvable, scalable, and adaptable for lunar surface missions and low-Earth orbit (LEO).

The AxEMU suit is nearing the final development stage. It completed a successful pressurized simulation with Artemis III partners, the first test of its kind since the Apollo era. It will continue to undergo testing, including crewed underwater tests at the NBL facility and integrated tests with the Artemis Lunar Terrain Vehicle prototypes. It will enter the critical design review phase in 2025.

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