Astronauts will wear 'branded clothes' on NASA moon mission

Italian luxury goods group Prada and US company Axiom Space have just announced the design of the astronaut suit that will be used in NASA's Artemis 3 mission to explore the moon in 2026.

On the surface, the spacesuit looks little different from what astronauts have worn before. It's the familiar bulky white suit, with red trim and gray patches at the knees and elbows, according to Reuters.

The new suit, called AxEMU, was unveiled at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan on October 16. It aims to combine aesthetics with functionality designed to withstand the challenging conditions of the moon.

Artemis 3 is scheduled to be NASA's first manned landing on the moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

The spacesuits are designed to withstand the extreme temperatures at the moon's south pole and the coldest temperatures in permanently shaded areas for at least two hours, the two companies said in a joint statement.

Astronauts will be able to conduct spacewalks for at least eight hours.

AxEMU has undergone testing in a variety of conditions, including underwater testing to simulate the lunar environment. The two companies say the product is nearing its final stages of development.

“I am very proud of the results we are presenting today, which are just the beginning of a long-term collaboration with Axiom Space,” said Prada Chief Marketing Officer Lorenzo Bertelli.

Axiom Space President Matt Ondler said the suit was designed by combining the skills of the two groups. “The real innovation comes when we bring together teams from diverse backgrounds, different education levels, different skills,” he said.

As the space tourism and exploration industry grows, luxury brands are looking for viable partnerships.

Last month, French fashion house Pierre Cardin unveiled an astronaut training suit, which is expected to be used at the European Space Agency's space center.

Additionally, in the US, Hilton Hotels Group is partnering with Voyager Space to support the design and development of crew accommodations on the Starlab commercial space station.