Prada and Axiom Space created a new cooling system for a lunar spacesuit

On Sunday, "Axiom Space" and the Italian luxury brand "Prada" introduced a new "Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment" (LCVG) – a specialized inner layer of a next-generation lunar spacesuit, in which astronauts will return to the lunar surface for the first time in more than half a century.

Cross-industry partnership

The "LCVG" suit is designed to be worn under the "Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit" ("AxEMU") spacesuit during spacewalks lasting up to eight hours. Its creation utilized "Prada's" expertise in knitwear production, advanced 3D modeling technologies, and high-performance materials for precise temperature regulation and comfort in the extreme conditions of the lunar south pole.

"By combining the best of aerospace engineering and luxury craftsmanship with advanced product development, we have created a suit that neither company could have developed on its own," states "Axiom Space" executive vice president Dr. Jonathan Certain in a company press release.

The presentation in "New York" deepened the partnership that began in 2024, when the two companies unveiled the outer layer of the "AxEMU" spacesuit during the "International Astronautical Congress" in "Milan".

How the system works

The "LCVG" suit circulates cold water through a network of tubes routed around the body's major muscle groups. It absorbs metabolic heat generated during physical activity and carries it to the spacesuit's portable life support system, which dissipates it into outer space. Unlike traditional cooling suits, the "Axiom Space" version includes a fully redundant cooling loop in case of primary line failure.

Furthermore, the suit also performs a ventilation function: fresh oxygen is supplied to the astronaut's face, pushing out exhaled carbon dioxide, which is then returned to the life support system's "CO2 scrubber" and recirculated.

Looking to the future and "Artemis"

"Prada Group" Marketing Director "Lorenzo Bertelli" defines the "LCVG" as "a new achievement born from the unique combination of Axiom Space's pioneering expertise and Prada's mastery in design, garment construction, and advanced materials – on the eve of humanity's return to the Moon's surface".

According to an "Axiom Space" press release, the "LCVG" suit will be used during NASA's "Artemis IV" mission. "Prada's" specialized knowledge in high-tech fibers allows this inner layer to be worn repeatedly during extended missions – a critical requirement for long-term lunar exploration and habitation.