NASA’s Artemis astronauts are about to experience a leap in spacewear innovation. In a striking collaboration, Prada and Axiom Space have revealed the Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (LCVG) that will be worn under the new AxEMU spacesuits on the moon. The garment is designed to combine advanced life-support functionality with an unexpected flair for fashion, signaling a new era where space technology meets design.
Revolutionizing Spacesuit Comfort And Functionality
The new LCVG represents a major upgrade over previous astronaut undergarments. Its design incorporates built-in channels for circulating cooling liquid, ensuring that astronauts maintain optimal body temperature even in the extreme thermal swings of the lunar environment.
“This is the garment that astronauts wear inside the suit,” Axiom Space Senior Vice President Russell Ralston told Space.com during a press event at Prada on June 7. “It provides them comfort, cooling, and those kinds of things … really proud of the design.”
Beyond temperature control, the suit manages oxygen and carbon dioxide levels, using larger tubes that first deliver air over the wearer’s face before circulating it throughout the body. This process helps astronauts breathe safely during the demanding conditions of lunar exploration. “Providing carbon dioxide management as they exhale, and providing oxygen back to the astronauts as they inhale,” according to Jonathan Cirtain, CEO and President of Axiom Space, underscores how the garment is as much about life support as it is about innovation.
Aesthetic Innovation Meets Aerospace Engineering
Unlike many traditional aerospace garments, the LCVG has been designed with visual appeal in mind. “It’s not oftentimes that astrophysics [and] aeronautics develops things that are aesthetically pleasing,” Cirtain said at the event. “While aesthetically pleasing, this is a safety suit … it’s a really remarkable piece of technology.”
Prada’s influence is evident in the v-neck lines, thumbhole sleeves, stirrup pants, and the signature red stripe, which together create a piece that resembles high-end activewear as much as a technical spacesuit undergarment. Yet every stylistic choice serves a purpose: modular construction allows for customized fits, easier replacement of individual components, and improved thermal management, aligning fashion expertise with the rigorous demands of space exploration.
Preparing For The Moon’s Extreme Environment
The AxEMU spacesuits, paired with the LCVG, are specifically designed for the lunar South Pole, where the Artemis 4 mission will land astronauts. Temperatures in this region can swing over 400 degrees Fahrenheit between sunlight and shadow, presenting a challenge that previous Apollo-era suits were not built to handle. Extensive environmental testing, including simulated lunar gravity and temperature conditions, ensures astronauts remain safe and functional in this unforgiving terrain.
The garment may also see preliminary trials aboard the International Space Station, providing a low-risk environment to validate its systems before moon landing missions. NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory will further allow astronauts to practice movements while wearing the suit, simulating lunar mobility in a controlled aquatic environment.
