Axiom Space and Prada have unveiled a new Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (LCVG) designed for astronauts who will wear the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit during future lunar missions.
The garment serves as the high-performance inner layer of the AxEMU spacesuit and is intended to help astronauts withstand the harsh conditions of the lunar environment as NASA prepares to return humans to the Moon for the first time in more than five decades.
The latest development expands the collaboration between Axiom Space and the Italian luxury fashion house, which previously worked together on the exterior design and materials of the AxEMU spacesuit.
Combining Aerospace Engineering and Fashion Expertise
The LCVG project draws on Prada’s experience in advanced materials, engineered knitting, and garment design, alongside Axiom Space’s expertise in human spaceflight systems.
According to the companies, the garment was developed using advanced 3D modeling techniques to optimize cooling, ventilation, and comfort during lunar surface operations that could last up to eight hours.
“The future of space exploration will not be built by any one entity alone, and our partnership with Prada is proof of that,” said Dr. Jonathan Cirtain, Chief Executive Officer and President of Axiom Space.
“By bringing together the best in both aerospace engineering as well as luxury craftmanship and advanced product development, we have developed a garment that neither company could have created independently, and that is exactly the kind of cross-industry thinking that will define the next era of human spaceflight.”
Prada also contributed to the identification and sourcing of specialized fibers intended to withstand repeated use during long-duration missions.
Critical Role in Astronaut Safety
The Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment is designed to regulate body temperature during spacewalks by circulating cold water through a network of tubes positioned around major muscle groups.
Axiom Space has teamed up again with @Prada to introduce the Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (LCVG), the innermost layer within the #AxEMU spacesuit that is designed to protect astronauts from the elements when they explore the lunar surface for the first time in more than… pic.twitter.com/Oqoz8x8Ohj
— Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) June 7, 2026
As astronauts perform physically demanding tasks, the system absorbs metabolic heat generated by the body and transfers it to the suit’s portable life-support system, where the heat is expelled into space.
Unlike previous generations of cooling garments, the AxEMU LCVG incorporates a fully redundant cooling circuit, providing a backup system in the event of a primary loop failure.
The garment also performs a vital ventilation function. A separate network delivers fresh oxygen across the astronaut’s face, helping remove exhaled carbon dioxide before the air is routed through the life-support system and recirculated.
Building on the AxEMU Program
The unveiling follows the introduction of the AxEMU spacesuit’s outer layer in 2024, when Prada assisted Axiom Space in designing and developing exterior components capable of withstanding extreme lunar temperatures and micrometeoroid impacts near the Moon’s south pole.
The companies described the move from the suit’s outer shell to the garment worn directly against the astronaut’s body as a natural evolution of their partnership.
“When we unveiled the AxEMU, we announced that the collaboration between Prada and Axiom Space would continue beyond that first milestone,” said Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Sustainability.
“Today, we are proud to present a new achievement born from the unique combination of Axiom Space’s pioneering expertise and Prada’s know-how in design, patternmaking, and advanced materials, ahead of humanity’s return to the lunar surface.”
Supporting Artemis Missions
The LCVG is expected to be among the key systems supporting astronauts during NASA’s Artemis program, particularly during future lunar surface missions.
When astronauts conduct spacewalks on the Moon, the garment will serve as one of the primary systems responsible for maintaining safe body temperatures and breathable conditions inside the spacesuit.
“Every minute astronauts spend outside their vehicle, the LCVG is working to keep them safe,” said Russell Ralston, Senior Vice President of Spacecraft Development at Axiom Space.
“It manages their thermal environment, supports their breathing, and does it all while they’re pushing their bodies to the limit. The work we have done with Prada has taken that capability to a level we could not have achieved alone.”
The announcement highlights the growing role of cross-industry partnerships in advancing space technologies, as commercial companies increasingly collaborate with organizations outside the traditional aerospace sector to develop next-generation systems for human exploration beyond Earth.
