Prada Designs Cooling Garment for NASA Moon Mission

Italian fashion house Prada has unveiled a new piece of equipment for NASA astronauts heading to the moon. Developed with Houston-based Axiom Space, the body-hugging garment includes a liquid cooling and ventilation system and will be worn under spacesuits during future lunar missions.

The garment contains a network of tubes designed to regulate astronauts’ body temperature during spacewalks. It is part of Axiom’s spacesuit system for NASA’s Artemis IV mission, which is planned for 2028.

Prada’s involvement follows its 2024 collaboration with Axiom on the outer spacesuit design. Company executives said expertise from the fashion industry could also help develop technology for space exploration, including advanced fabrics, engineered knitting and comfort-focused design.

The project could also help Prada strengthen its image as an innovator and reach a new generation of customers, including potential clients in the emerging space tourism sector.

Prada is the first major luxury fashion house to become so closely involved in equipment for NASA lunar missions. Analysts do not rule out other luxury brands entering the space sector as commercial spaceflight grows.

(reuters, max)