GoKawiilThere is a lot going into NASA's Artemis IV mission, which promises to put humans back on the moon for the first time in 50 years. Among the various moving pieces is a new spacesuit lining developed by Axiom Space and Prada. Yes, the fashion giant.
The two companies unveiled the Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment on Sunday during an event at Prada's store in Manhattan. Its purpose is to serve as the inner lining of the AxEMU spacesuit that Axiom Space and Prada developed. The jumpsuit is fitted to the astronaut's body so that the various cooling systems work effectively.
Prada and Axiom didn't sacrifice fashion, either, as the suit's form-fitting nature and tube design look pretty cool and wouldn't be too out of place on a runway.
Axiom Space and Prada developed the garment in tandem, with Prada handling the knitting, manufacturing and design while Axiom Space worked on the liner's cooling system and ventilation. Both systems are important, since human bodies generate a lot of "metabolic heat," according to Axiom Space. The liner helps dissipate heat so that astronauts don't overheat during the long spacewalks expected during the Artemis IV mission.
"Every minute astronauts spend outside their vehicle, the LCVG is working to keep them safe," said Russell Ralston, Axiom Space senior vice president of Spacecraft Development. "It manages their thermal environment, supports their breathing and does it all while they're pushing their bodies to the limit."
During the announcement, Prada said that the suit is not only being used for NASA's Artemis IV mission but was also being marketed to commercial space companies like Blue Origin and SpaceX for use in commercial space endeavors such as space tourism, where a spiffy designer spacesuit would be right at home.
Artemis IV is aiming for launch in early 2028, following the success of the Artemis II mission around the moon earlier this year, and the planned Artemis III mission in mid 2027. Artemis III will launch into low-Earth orbit, rendezvous with NASA's lunar landers, perform tests and learn more about the effects of microgravity on lunar suits. Artemis IV will put humans back on the moon for the first time since 1972.
The LCVG is designed to be paired with the AxEMU spacesuit, also made by Axiom Space and Prada. Axiom Space/Prada
How does the spacesuit work?
The suit's two primary functions are keeping astronauts cool during long spacewalks and helping them breathe in the vacuum of space. It accomplishes these feats with a series of tubes that go all over the astronaut's body, delivering cooling and air while the astronauts do their thing.
... continue reading