By Jesmine Cheong, ABC with wires
The AxEMU suit is pictured during a press conference of Prada and Axiom Space. Photo: AFP - Marco Bertorello
The first woman on the moon will be wearing a designer spacesuit, as part of NASA's first human mission to the lunar South Pole.
Prada has co-designed the space suit with private space company Axiom Space to provide the surface suits for NASA's Artemis III mission to the moon, planned for 2026.
The designer suit does not stray too far from what astronauts have worn historically.
Similar to the suits worn by the Apollo astronauts who last walked on the moon more than five decades ago, the external layer of the suit is designed to reflect heat and is mostly white.
It is also designed to withstand extreme temperatures at the lunar south pole and endure the coldest temperatures.
But the fresh suit will have touches of grey and red stripes, reflecting similar characteristics to other Prada creations, including Italy's Luna Rossa America's Cup boat.
The suits are also unisex and can be adapted to different sizes.
First woman on the moon
Artemis III is planned as the first astronaut moon landing since Apollo 17 in 1972.
NASA said it will also mark the first time a woman and person of colour has been on the surface of the Moon.
Artemis II, the first crewed Artemis mission around the Moon, is set to leave earth in September next year aiming to pave the way for Artemis III.
Christina Koch is the only woman in the Artemis crew.
The AxEMU suit is pictured during a press conference of Prada and Axiom Space. Photo: AFP - Marco Bertorello
Twenty-four people have travelled to the Moon with only half walking on its surface and three of these astronauts making the journey twice, according to NASA's website.
In 1963, Russian-born Valentina Tereshkova became the first woman to travel to space when she orbited the earth in the spacecraft Vostok 6.
Kathryn Sullivan was the first American woman to walk in space in 1984.
Engineering behind the suit
Astronauts in the suit will be able to perform spacewalks for at least eight hours and endure the extreme cold temperatures for at least two hours, according to the two companies.
The companies said the suit has undergone underwater testing to stimulate the lunar environment and is nearing the final development stage.
The new suit, officially known as Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU), was showcased at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan.
The AxEMU suit is pictured during a press conference of Prada and Axiom Space. Photo: AFP - Marco Bertorello
Axiom Space president Matt Ondler said making the suit had required "extreme engineering".
"[The astronauts] will go in places that are incredibly hazardous, extreme environments," he said at a press launch in Milan.
"One of the missions that NASA wants to do is to try to find water craters at the South Pole.
"These are some of the coldest places in the universe and so this suit has to be designed very cleverly."
Designed to withstand extreme temperatures
At the lunar South Pole, a land of mountains and deep craters, the sun hovers below or just above the horizon.
This creates temperatures above 54 degrees Celsius in sunlit periods to minus 203 degrees Celsius in shadowed areas that have never see the sun, according to NASA.
The suit aims to provide maximum comfort to the astronauts, while also protecting them against radiation, external pressure and provide the necessary power and oxygen for moonwalks.
"We've blended engineering, science and art to produce the ultimate garments for future moonwalkers, ensuring that astronauts can perform their tasks and missions in safety and comfort," Axiom spacesuit programme manager Russell Ralston said.
With the growth of space exploration and tourism industries, luxury brands have been exploring potential partnerships.
Last month, French fashion house Pierre Cardin unveiled an astronaut training suit for the European Space Agency's centre in Cologne.
Hotel group Hilton is also working with Voyager Space to support the design and development of crew suites aboard planned commercial space station Starlab.
-ABC
