When most people think about a spacesuit, they focus on the outer shell. The helmet, the visor and the futuristic appearance tend to steal the attention. Yet one of the most important components is hidden beneath the surface.
Axiom Space and Prada have now revealed the Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment, better known as the LCVG, designed to be worn inside the AxEMU spacesuit that will support astronauts during future lunar exploration.
The garment serves as the astronaut’s personal climate control system. As astronauts work in demanding environments, their bodies generate significant heat. Without an effective cooling solution, temperatures inside a spacesuit could quickly become uncomfortable and potentially dangerous.
Keeping Astronauts Cool on the Moon
The LCVG features a network of cooling tubes integrated throughout the garment. Water circulates through these tubes, helping regulate body temperature while removing excess heat generated during physical activity.
The system also assists with ventilation, ensuring astronauts remain comfortable during long periods of exploration. Whether collecting samples, conducting experiments or navigating the lunar surface, maintaining a stable body temperature is essential for performance and safety.
Prada’s Unexpected Role
While Prada is best known for luxury fashion, the Italian house has brought advanced expertise in materials, manufacturing and design to the AxEMU program.
The collaboration highlights how space exploration increasingly draws on knowledge from industries far beyond aerospace. Prada’s contribution has focused on helping create solutions that balance durability, functionality and comfort under extreme conditions.
A New Era of Spacesuit Design
The AxEMU spacesuit represents one of the most advanced spacesuit programs developed in recent years. Designed for future lunar missions, it aims to provide greater mobility, flexibility and performance than previous generations of suits.
The unveiling of the LCVG offers another glimpse into the technology that will help astronauts operate on the Moon as humanity prepares for a new chapter of exploration.
While it may not be the most visible part of the suit, the Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment could prove to be one of its most important innovations.
