I guess if you're going to go into outer space, do it in style, right?
At the International Astronautical Congress in Milan, Italy, Axiom Space and Prada revealed for the first time today the flight design of the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit that will be used for NASA's Artemis III mission.
The outer-layer design and materials work was jointly developed starting when the two industry leaders came together, blending creativity and engineering to enhance the next-generation spacesuit design.
Here's a look at that spacesuit:
So that's what an Italian design company came up with?
Hope it's more functional than it is pleasing to the eye!
Speaking of which, I know SpaceX's new spacesuit isn't meant for the lunar surface, but compare what Prada came up with to the SpaceX geeks in Texas:
Anyway, I'm sure the $228 million in tax dollars were well spent (aren't they always?) to slightly change our 60-year-old spacesuit design on what is clearly not a publicity stunt.
Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility said, 'Going beyond our limits is one of the company's values that perfectly reflects the spirit of the Prada brand and my parents' vision.'
"Going beyond our limits."
Well, they might be experimenting in areas unknown, but at least the astronauts will be comfy!
Prada's expertise enabled advanced technologies and innovative sewing methods to bridge the gap between highly engineered functionality and an aesthetically appealing white outer layer, providing astronauts with an increased level of comfort while improving the materials' performance.
Here's the tech breakdown:
The AxEMU incorporates multiple redundant systems and an onboard diagnostic system to ensure safety for crewmembers. The suit also uses a regenerable carbon dioxide scrubbing system and a robust cooling technology to remove heat from the system. It includes advanced coatings on the helmet and visor to enhance the astronauts' view of their surroundings, as well as custom gloves made in-house featuring several advancements over the gloves used today. The spacesuit architecture includes life support systems, pressure garments, avionics and other innovative systems to meet exploration needs and expand scientific opportunities.
When they take this thing for a spin, I'll be praying the DEI team had even less input than Prada!
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