As NASA gets ready for Moon with its Artemis III mission, Lauren Sanchez's 'Designer uniform' is back for ...

NASA is preparing for its Artemis III mission to return astronauts to the Moon. As preparations continue, the role of fashion designers in spacesuit development is once again drawing attention. The discussion has resurfaced following the unveiling of a new component of the spacesuit being developed by Axiom Space and Prada for the lunar mission. The announcement comes more than a year after Amazon founder Jeff Bezos’ wife, Lauren Sanchez, joined an all-women crew for a Blue Origin mission, making them the first to wear designer spacesuits.



Axiom Space and Prada recently revealed the Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (LCVG), an inner layer that astronauts will wear beneath the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit during lunar surface operations. The garment is designed to regulate body temperature and provide ventilation during spacewalks lasting up to 8 hours.



The unveiling marks the next phase of the collaboration between Axiom Space and Prada, which began with the development of the AxEMU spacesuit's outer layer. NASA plans to use the suit for the Artemis III mission, which aims to land astronauts on the Moon for the first time since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972.

Prada's role in NASA's next Moon mission

According to Axiom Space, the LCVG circulates water through a network of tubes positioned around major muscle groups to remove body heat and release it into space. Separate ventilation tubes deliver fresh oxygen to the astronaut's face while helping remove exhaled carbon dioxide.



The company said the garment also includes a backup cooling circuit in case the primary cooling system fails. Prada contributed expertise in materials, garment construction and design, helping develop the suit's inner and outer layers.



The partnership highlights a growing trend of fashion and design companies contributing to space technology projects. Prada previously worked with Axiom Space on the exterior of the AxEMU suit, which was designed to withstand the extreme conditions expected at the Moon's south pole.

Lauren Sánchez's Blue Origin spacesuit returns to spotlight

The latest reveal has also renewed discussion around the designer Blue Origin spacesuits worn by Lauren Sánchez and the all-women crew during the company's April 2025 flight. Sanchez had previously highlighted the need for spacesuits designed with women in mind, referencing long-standing challenges in the aerospace industry.



On a video call with The New York Times, “Usually, you know, these suits are made for a man. Then they get tailored to fit a woman,” Sanchez said after returning from the Blue Origin flight.



Her comments reflected concerns that gained wider attention after a planned all-female spacewalk in 2019 was altered because NASA did not have two properly fitted spacesuits available for women astronauts.



To address those concerns, Sánchez worked with designers Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim of Monse to create new Blue Origin flight suits. The garments were tailored using 3D body scans and made from flame-resistant stretch neoprene. Features included adjustable calf zippers, a dual-zip front and a mandarin-style collar.



Gayle King, who was also part of the crew, said the suits balanced professionalism with femininity, while another crew member, Amanda Nguyen, described them as a statement that women belong in space.



The collaboration between Blue Origin and fashion designers mirrors similar efforts across the private space industry. Alongside Axiom Space's partnership with Prada, SpaceX has also worked with costume designer Jose Fernandez on its astronaut suits, reflecting a broader effort to combine functionality, comfort and fit in the next generation of spacewear.