The Astronaut Wears Prada: The First Woman on the Moon Will Rock This Spacesuit

The next-level lunar fit has just dropped. Prada, yes that Prada, has teamed up with Axiom Space to design the spacesuit for the first woman and first person of colour to ever set foot on the moon.

NASA is aiming to make this iconic moment happen as soon as September 2026. The sleek suit was revealed earlier today at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan, showcasing a game-changing partnership between Prada and Axiom Space, who NASA tapped to create the ‘Extravehicular Mobility Unit’ (aka spacesuit) for Artemis III, the first moon landing mission since Apollo 17 in 1972.

“We are pioneering a new era in space exploration,” said Russell Ralston, Axiom Space’s EVP of Extravehicular Activity, just before the big reveal. “For the first time, we are leveraging expertise in other industries to craft a better solution for space.” And Prada’s influence here is no accident. Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group’s Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility, was key in securing the luxury brand’s spot in the space race.

Though there’s no Prada logo on the suit—whether by accident or intentional minimalism—the design doesn’t shy away from Prada’s signature flair. Bold red lines on the otherwise crisp white suit are a nod to Prada’s Linea Rossa, the sporty collection originally designed for their America’s Cup sailing team, Luna Rossa. Fittingly, Luna Rossa translates to “Red Moon” in Italian, making this cosmic connection all the more poetic.

The suit’s design isn’t just about looks, though—it’s built to handle the extremes of space. According to NASA, this suit will allow astronauts to withstand the freezing temperatures at the lunar south pole and survive in the permanently shadowed regions for up to two hours, while also enabling eight-hour spacewalks. Prada’s role? Designing an outer layer that not only offers advanced protection but also inspires future space explorers. The release highlighted Prada’s expertise in crafting cutting-edge materials and using innovative sewing techniques to merge functionality with sleek design.

This venture into space fashion is just one part of NASA’s broader Artemis project. With private partners like Axiom, Prada, and SpaceX, which is providing the Human Landing System (HLS) to shuttle astronauts to and from lunar orbit, NASA’s mission isn’t just about landing on the moon—it’s about building the foundation for deep space exploration and, one day, sending humans to Mars.

Lorenzo Bertelli is already thinking long-term. He hinted at how Prada’s innovations in fabric weaving and near-seamless production could help push the boundaries of future spacesuit designs.

While the final crew for Artemis III hasn’t been announced, NASA has made it clear, “For the benefit of all humanity, NASA and its partners will land the first woman and first person of colour on the surface of the Moon with Artemis.”

When they step onto the lunar surface, they’ll join the ranks of the 12 astronauts who made the trip between 1969 and 1972. Get ready, because space (and fashion) history is about to be made.