Overview
- Prada and Axiom publicly revealed the Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (LCVG) at a Manhattan event on Sunday, presenting a completed inner‑layer design intended for use beneath the AxEMU spacesuit.
- The LCVG circulates cold water through tubes over major muscle groups to remove metabolic heat, uses a separate ventilation circuit to deliver oxygen and remove carbon dioxide, and is rated to support extravehicular activity of up to eight hours with redundant cooling circuits for backup.
- Prada contributed engineered knitting, 3D modeling and materials sourcing to make the garment form‑fitting, modular and maintainable while Axiom integrated life‑support interfaces and connectors that plug into the AxEMU outer shell.
- Axiom says the LCVG could be tested aboard the International Space Station or demonstrated in 2027, but the program’s schedule faces scrutiny after an April NASA Office of Inspector General report warned contractor delays could jeopardize the 2028 Artemis IV lunar landing timeline.
- The collaboration reflects a wider trend of fashion and apparel firms entering space projects to supply technical textiles and capture affluent space‑tourism markets while raising questions about contractor timelines and NASA qualification steps.