Tag Archives: nasa

Max Space Thunderbird is an expandable space station module that could eventually replace ISS

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Space is the final frontier as NASA plans to go deeper into the dark space with improved technology and lessons from past and current missions. The International Space Station is going to reach the end of its operational life by the end of the decade, and NASA plans to employ services from commercially owned space stations, rather than putting its time and efforts into building another one.

The idea is to reserve its brilliant minds and the vast resource pool for deep space exploration beyond the Earth’s orbit. This has opened up doors for next-generation private companies to get in the race to build the most efficient space station to replace NASA’s outgoing ISS. Florida-based startup Max Space, which operates in the vicinity of the Kennedy Space Center, is testing the prospect of expanding space habitats, as NASA concentrates more on outer space missions.

Designer: Max Space and OMI

Their prime concept for the next-generation space station is Thunderbird, which can launch compactly and expand in low Earth orbit for a far more practical pressurized environment than current-generation modules. Just imagine a single-launch commercial habitat, compared to the ISS, which took years of on-orbit assembly, and rocket flights. The space station concept proposes the use of an expandable fabric-based structure to maximize the volume, while staying well within the volume and mass threshold of transporting it into orbit. NASA themselves have been experimenting with inflatable modules, and Max Space builds on that knowledge to craft one of the most complex habitat structures known to man.

The aeronautical start-up co-founded by CEO Saleem Miyan, Chairman Aaron Kemmer, and Chief Technology Officer Maxim de Jong, is working in close association with NASA under the Space Act Agreements for technical collaboration. If all goes to plan, Thunderbird will launch into Earth’s orbit by the end of the decade on the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.  Before the final launch, there will be extensive test flights and demonstrations to make the mission a 100 percent success.

What we see in the pictures is a concept iteration of the space module designed by OMI (Of My Imagination) Studio for Max Space. Thunderbird is the orbital component of the proposed expandable habitat, which is envisioned to go well beyond the low-orbit International Space Station modules. It is going to be the basis for the more serious Lunar or Martian missions planned for the next decade. OMI is the brainchild of visionary minds who have worked in close quarters with former NASA astronauts to reimagine “space station as a human-centred environment rather than a purely functional spacecraft.”

The circular structure of the module is deliberate to employ the microgravity shifts to aid navigation. The highly functional compact module can expand into a 350-cubic-meter habitat for four crew members, each having their dedicated sleeping pods and facilities, including a gym, scientific laboratories, community living space, and eight functional areas. The module has to go through the extreme temperatures of the orbit, so the agency has designed the external surfaces from multi-layered Kevlar with triple safety redundancy. This far exceeds NASA’s requirements to guard against micrometeoroids.

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This NASA-inspired Kojima Watch lets you wear Ludens’ futuristic vision on your wrist

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NASA-inspired timepieces have always been hot property for astronomy fanatics and watch collectors alike. The minimalist Nova Watch, geeky  NASA Artemis Watch 2.0, and the ultra-exclusive Amida watches prove it, all right. Now, Anicorn Watches has unveiled another space-themed creation that channels the spirit of interstellar exploration through its collaboration with Kojima Productions.

According to Anicorn, the timepiece captures the essence of Hideo Kojima’s iconic Ludens character. Conceived by the legendary artist Yoji Shinkawa, Ludens is imagined as an astronaut venturing into the digital universe, symbolizing the studio’s philosophy of exploring the unknown through creativity. Described by the watchmaker as a once-in-a-lifetime collaboration, the Space Ludens transforms that futuristic vision into a collectible mechanical watch.

Designer: Anicorn Watches

The NASA “worm” logo serves as one of the defining visual elements, reinforcing the idea of “bringing fun into the unknown universe.” Housed in a 42 mm 316L stainless steel case with a scratch-resistant sapphire crystal, the watch embraces an industrial aesthetic inspired by the Ludens EVA Creative Suit. Four exposed screws on the bezel echo the suit’s structural details, while the monochrome dial is accented with subtle futuristic graphics that stay true to Kojima Productions’ signature visual language. Super-LumiNova-coated hands and hour markers ensure the watch remains easy to read after dark without compromising its clean appearance.

Powering the Space Ludens is the dependable Miyota 8215 automatic movement with 21 jewels and a beat rate of 21,600 vibrations per hour. A transparent exhibition caseback reveals the movement in action, giving enthusiasts a glimpse of the mechanics behind the design. The watch also offers 50-meter water resistance, making it practical enough for everyday wear despite its collector-focused appeal.

Comfort hasn’t been overlooked either. The timepiece comes paired with a durable black FKM rubber strap that complements the rugged case while providing a secure fit for daily use. Each watch is individually numbered and presented in custom collector packaging that celebrates the collaboration between Anicorn and Kojima Productions.

For enthusiasts seeking an even more exclusive offering, Anicorn also introduced the Space Ludens with Ludens Mask VIP edition limited to just 100 units. In addition to the watch, the premium set includes a detailed Ludens mask display piece presented in a collector-grade package, turning the release into a display-worthy tribute to one of gaming’s most recognizable creative icons. Priced at $1,540, the rare edition is without doubt “EVA Creative Suit on the wrist” for enthusiasts to own.

 

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Prada designs a hidden Onesie that could keep NASA’s Artemis astronauts alive on the Moon

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The fashion and home décor industry has, for years, looked toward space for inspiration. Prada is a brand that’s pushing through to be the first luxury fashion house to inspire space travel instead. For its new adventure in space, Prada has designed an inner-layer garment that astronauts aboard the NASA Artemis headed for the Moon will wear underneath their space suits.

For some fashion enthusiasts, this could come as a surprise, but the fact is, Prada has been working for a few years now with Axiom Space. Axiom is a private company that NASA has partnered with to develop spacesuits for its astronauts to wear on the upcoming Artemis missions.

Designer: Prada x Axiom Space

Axiom Space and Prada first unveiled the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU), a next-generation spacesuit, in 2024. “AxEMU is the first major upgrade to NASA’s space suits in more than 20 years,” and it is designed for NASA’s Artemis III mission and beyond. Now, believing the astronauts need a way to keep cool and oxygenated within the bulky space suit when on the lunar surface, Prada has introduced the garment to wear under the space suit, which has been part of the design process.

With the company’s signature red stripe on the sleeve, which is apparent on Prada’s activewear collection, the onesie called the Liquid Cooling Ventilation Garment (LCVG) will go under the space suit, as an innerwear (we cannot comment whether astronauts will need another layer of innerwear underneath). The LCVG is provided with tubes running around the back, which are used to circulate cold water around the astronaut’s body. The entire thing is designed in a high fashion sense, so the onesie is sleek and a complete wear in itself.

Designed primarily to keep the astronaut’s body from overheating while they walk on the moon, it is also provided with a ventilation system to deliver oxygen and remove carbon dioxide formed inside the AxEMU. Talking about the convenience and benefits of this finely crafted innerwear, the senior vice president of spacecrafts at Axiom Space informs, “Every minute astronauts spend outside their (lunar) vehicle, the LCVG is working to keep them safe.” Axiom’s CEO and president, Jonathan Cirtain, pointed out that the LCVG “…manages their (astronauts’) thermal environment, supports their breathing, and does it all while they’re pushing their bodies to the limit.”

NASA hopes to carry out the Artemis III mission, a crewed test flight, the second such mission in the Artemis lunar exploration program in 2027. And then eventually make the first crewed landing on the Moon’s south pole in preceding missions by early 2028. The Artemis campaign is NASA’s human spaceflight mission to land American astronauts on the surface of the Moon, establish a sustainable presence on the lunar surface, and form a foundation for future manned missions to the Red Planet.

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The Artemis II ‘Earthset’ Photo Is Now a LEGO Set and It Looks Incredible

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On Christmas Eve 1968, astronaut Bill Anders looked out of Apollo 8’s window and saw something no human had ever seen before: Earth, whole and luminous, rising above the lunar horizon. He grabbed a camera and took what became arguably the most reproduced environmental photograph in history. That single image reframed humanity’s relationship with our planet, a pale blue marble suspended in the absolute black of space. Fifty-eight years later, the Artemis II crew did something almost identical, pointing their cameras backward as Orion swung behind the Moon and capturing Earth in the act of setting below the lunar limb.

That photograph, taken April 6, 2026, existed for barely nine days before LEGO builder BuildingDreams submitted an Ideas project to immortalize it in brick form. The Earthset mosaic is a 48 by 32 centimeter wall-art panel that translates the soft curves of Earth’s atmosphere, the brown and blue patchwork of continents and ocean, and the pale grey sweep of lunar regolith into a grid of plastic studs with a faithfulness that genuinely stops you mid-scroll.

Designer: BuildingDreams

The build sits in the tradition of LEGO’s own Art series, that line of large-format mosaic panels designed to function as legitimate wall decor rather than shelf clutter. BuildingDreams has clearly studied the format carefully. The panel frame is clean and silver-edged, the depth a slim 2.8 centimeters, and the overall composition respects the original photograph’s balance: vast black space occupying the upper field, the Earth arc sweeping across the middle, and the lunar surface anchoring the bottom in tan and brown. What makes it work as a mosaic is the restraint. The builder resists the temptation to over-detail the Earth itself, letting the contrast between white cloud cover, deep ocean blue, and brown landmass do the compositional heavy lifting.

The detail that elevates this above a flat mosaic exercise is the Orion spacecraft, rendered in three dimensions and mounted to the left edge of the panel, solar panels spread wide, jutting out into the room. It breaks the picture plane in exactly the right way, a reminder that this photograph had a photographer, that four humans were inside that capsule watching Earth disappear below the Moon. Beneath the spacecraft, four minifigures stand on a small stepped platform labeled ARTEMIS II, representing Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialists Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen. The orange Orion Crew Survival System suits are printed with NASA and CSA mission patches. The minifig work is precise enough that you can tell which figure represents Hansen by the Canadian Space Agency insignia on his chest.

BuildingDreams has noted that Earthset is designed as a companion to their previous Earthrise project, the two panels intended to hang side by side as a kind of 58-year conversation between Apollo 8 and Artemis II. That framing is genuinely compelling, and for anyone who has the wall space, the pair would be remarkable.

LEGO Ideas is the community platform where fan-designed builds gather votes toward a 10,000-supporter threshold, at which point LEGO’s internal team formally reviews the submission for potential production as a retail set. Earthset is currently sitting at just over 530 supporters with nearly 586 days left on the clock. If you want to see this one make it to store shelves, head to the LEGO Ideas page and cast your vote.

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The NASA Artemis 2.0 Smartwatch Runs Python And Lets Kids Code Their Own Wearable

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NASA’s Artemis II lifted off from Kennedy Space Center on April 1, 2026, carrying four astronauts on humanity’s first crewed lunar mission in over 50 years. Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen are currently aboard the Orion spacecraft, preparing for a lunar flyby that will take them farther from Earth than any humans have traveled since Apollo 13. Space exploration feels immediate again in a way it hasn’t in decades, and CircuitMess timed the NASA Artemis Watch 2.0 perfectly into that cultural moment. This is a $129 programmable smartwatch, fully assembled and ready to use out of the box, inspired by the very mission currently making headlines.

The hardware inside includes a dual-core ESP32 microcontroller, a full-color LCD screen, an accelerometer, a gyroscope, a compass, and a temperature sensor. It pairs with iOS and Android devices over Bluetooth for activity tracking and notifications, and the firmware is entirely open-source, reprogrammable in Python, CircuitBlocks, or the Arduino IDE. You can design custom watch faces, build interactive apps, and modify sensor behavior as deep as you want to go. The age recommendation is 9 and up, which reflects the lower barrier to entry compared to CircuitMess’s Perseverance Rover kit we wrote about earlier. No assembly required, no soldering, just charge it and start exploring.

Designer: CircuitMess

Most smartwatches aimed at kids treat programming as something that happens elsewhere, if it happens at all. You get a companion app with preset themes, maybe a handful of watch face options, and locked-down software that assumes the wearer has no interest in understanding what’s running underneath. The Artemis Watch 2.0 flips that entire model. CircuitMess ships it fully functional, but every layer of the software is accessible and modifiable. The visual block-based CircuitBlocks environment gives beginners a starting point, while Python and Arduino IDE support mean users can graduate to full code without hitting an artificial ceiling. The firmware lives on GitHub as an open-source repository, so there’s no proprietary lock-in and no feature wall you can’t get past.

The dual-core ESP32 processor does real work here. It handles Bluetooth pairing with smartphones, processes sensor data from the accelerometer and gyroscope in real time, and runs whatever custom apps you decide to build on top of the base system. The compass and temperature sensor add environmental awareness, which opens up coding projects beyond simple timekeeping. You could program the watch to log temperature changes throughout the day, trigger alerts based on compass heading, or build a step counter that uses the accelerometer to track movement patterns. The 1.77 x 0.5 x 2.76 inch form factor keeps it wearable for younger users, and the rechargeable Li-Po battery charges via USB-C.

CircuitMess sells the Artemis Watch 2.0 standalone at $129, but it also appears in a Mars Exploration Bundle alongside the Perseverance Rover for $399, a 23% discount over buying both separately. That bundle positions the watch as a companion device for tracking rover missions and staying connected during the 20-hour rover build. CircuitMess also offers a Collector’s Bundle that includes the watch and four official strap designs for $149. The company has sold over 300,000 kits worldwide, and the Artemis branding ties directly into the kind of sustained media coverage that makes space feel culturally relevant again.

The Artemis Watch 2.0 is available now at circuitmess.com. If you followed the actual Artemis II launch this week, if you care about wearable tech that doesn’t condescend to younger users, or if you want a smartwatch that teaches coding by letting you rebuild it from the inside out, this is one of the few products in this category worth the $129 ask.

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This $349 NASA Mars Perseverance Rover Kit Lets You Build an AI-Powered Mars Robot at Home

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NASA spent $2.7 billion building Perseverance and getting it to Mars. CircuitMess will sell you a buildable, functional, AI-capable replica for $309, and you get to solder every joint yourself. The kit launched in early 2025 and has sold 4,000 units across five restocks, each batch clearing out in approximately two hours. The math on that kind of sell-through rate points to something working at a level most STEM products never reach. The engineering decisions behind the kit explain why people keep showing up for the restocks instead of waiting for broader availability.

CircuitMess and GeeekClub secured NASA approval for the branding and matched the mechanical design to the real rover’s geometry, down to the rocker-bogie suspension that allows independent wheel movement across uneven terrain. The hardware includes six DC motors for propulsion, two servo motors for the arm and camera, a dual-core ESP32 microcontroller, and an AI-capable camera module with object recognition. Assembly involves soldering 300-plus components over roughly 20 hours, with all tools provided in the kit. Control options include a custom RF controller you build yourself, WiFi remote access, and autonomous navigation modes powered by the onboard AI. The firmware lives on GitHub as an open-source repository, and the rover accepts Python, C++, and Arduino IDE programming for anyone who wants to modify its behavior or add new capabilities through the modular expansion ports.

Designer: CircuitMess

The process is guided but not restrictive, and after completing the base rover, users can reprogram it in Python or C++, experiment with CircuitBlocks, integrate additional modules, or alter its behavior entirely. That distinction matters because most STEM kits treat the build as a finish line. You follow the instructions, snap the final piece into place, drive it around for an afternoon, and then it becomes shelf decoration. The kit functions as a flexible platform rather than a one-time build. The modular architecture accepts additional sensor modules, letting builders upgrade and enhance their rover’s capabilities over time. The included fiducial marker cards give the AI camera immediate objects to recognize and track, so the computer vision feature has a real use case right out of the box. The orange foam cubes and balls visible in the kit photography serve as sample collection targets for the robotic arm, turning the rover into a functional system with tasks to perform, not a static display model.

While most STEM products bury their appeal in technical jargon and uninspired concepts, CircuitMess tapped into current trends to entice a broader audience, with strategic direction that aligned with Mars rover making real discoveries millions of miles away. Perseverance landed in Jezero Crater in February 2021, and for a sustained period afterward, space exploration felt culturally immediate in a way it hadn’t since the early shuttle era. People were watching a robot drive around Mars in near real-time, following sample collection updates, tracking the Ingenuity helicopter flights. CircuitMess launched this kit while that public interest was still live, and the timing was surgical. The kit didn’t sell because people wanted another electronics project. It sold because people wanted to understand how the thing they were watching on the news actually worked, and CircuitMess offered a credible path to that understanding.

The NASA Mars Perseverance Rover kit is available at circuitmess.com for $349. Since launching in early 2025, the kit has sold 4,000 units across five restocks, with each batch selling out in approximately 2 hours. If you’re the kind of person who followed the Perseverance mission beyond the landing headlines, who knows what a rocker-bogie suspension does or why a dual-core processor matters for onboard AI, this is one of the few educational kits that respects that level of interest.

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This $4,500 NASA Watch Reads Time Through a Prism and Only 100 Exist

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There are a few driver’s watches as acceptable and undeniably luring as the Amida Digitrend, first launched way back in 1976 (the same year when Apple was born). The fanfare had Amida and watch designer Matthieu Allègre revisit the timepiece in 2024, and now, to commemorate its 50th year since launch, the Digitrend is revived in a NASA Tribute mechanical watch.

The watch lands with a NASA logo slapped right on the doomed top, where you would otherwise find a dial on the other watches. The Digitrend, being a driver’s watch, features the dial placed perpendicular to the wrist for better visibility while driving. “Our inspiration comes from the iconic ceramic tiles covering the space shuttle’s exterior, to protect it against the brutal heat of atmospheric reentry,” the company notes.

Designer: Amida

The new, special edition timepiece is called the Amida Digitrend NASA Tribute and is designed to capture the spirit of the era of the Space Shuttle, “when humanity dared to reach for the stars.” Of course, the watch carries the same spirit and approach of the original Amida Digitrend of 1976, but the new one is now a direct tribute to space travel, which reflects first up on the white retro-futuristic watch face featuring the vibrant red NASA logotype, a nod to an era for the agency from 1975 to 1992.

Ready for takeoff, the Digitrend NASA Tribute features the same jumping hour and trailing minutes aperture on the perpendicular dial, which remains as it has always been on the watch series. The watch features a 40mm black DLC-faceted metallic monobloc case featuring a ceramic top shell. This atypical display and the case shape are both inspired by classic sports cars and modern architecture.

Made to be durable, the watch is powered by a Soprod Newton P092 automatic caliber, which is visible in action through the transparent caseback, and offers a 44-hour power reserve. The movement is connected to Amida’s in-house jumping hour disc comprising nine mechanical components that create a classic digital display. The watch comes paired with a matching strap featuring a black DLC steel buckle and a secure hook-and-loop fastening system. The strap is made of black leather and has quilted white nylon in the center.

The Amida Digitrend NASA Tribute is strictly limited to just 100 examples. A homage to the ingenuity of the space program, it is available at Amida for CHF 3,400 (approximately $4,500). The watch touts 50m water resistance and is actually priced exclusively because it is aimed at collectors and timepiece appreciators.

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The Pen That Went to the Moon Just Got a Tactical Upgrade

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Remember when you were a kid and someone told you about the space pen? You know, the one that writes upside down, underwater, and in basically any condition imaginable because NASA needed something reliable for astronauts? Well, Fisher Space Pen just dropped a new version that makes their legendary writing instrument even more ridiculously practical, and honestly, I’m kind of obsessed.

Meet the Measure Twice, a bolt-action tactical pen that’s basically the Swiss Army knife of writing instruments. At $69, it’s not your average drugstore pen, but hear me out because this thing is genuinely clever.

Designer: Fisher Space Pen

First, let’s talk about that bolt-action mechanism. If you’ve ever fidgeted with a pen during a long meeting or phone call, you know the appeal of a good click. But this takes it to another level. The bolt-action deployment is smooth, satisfying, and way more robust than a standard clicker. It’s the kind of tactile experience that makes you actually want to use a physical pen in our increasingly digital world. Plus, it just looks cool. There’s something inherently appealing about that tactical aesthetic without it being over the top or trying too hard.

But here’s where it gets interesting. Fisher etched precision ruler markings right into the barrel of the pen. We’re talking both imperial measurements up to 3.5 inches and metric up to 9 centimeters. Think about how many times you’ve needed to measure something small and had to hunt around for a ruler or tape measure. Shopping for furniture online and need to visualize how big something is? Got it. Working on a craft project? Covered. Trying to figure out if that vintage frame will fit your photo? Done. It’s one of those features that seems almost too simple, but once you have it, you realize how often you actually need it.

The construction is pretty impressive too. Fisher switched from their traditional chrome-plated brass to anodized aluminum for this model. That means it’s lighter and more comfortable to carry all day, but still incredibly durable. The anodizing makes it resistant to scratches, corrosion, and impacts, so you can toss it in your bag or pocket without babying it. It’s designed to be used, not displayed on a shelf.

Now for the feature that really sets this apart: there’s a tungsten carbide glass breaker tip on the opposite end from the writing point. Yes, you read that right. This pen doubles as an emergency escape tool. In a car accident or emergency situation where you need to break a window, this could genuinely save your life. It’s the kind of thing you hope you never need, but knowing it’s there provides a weird sense of security. Plus, it speaks to the thoughtful design philosophy behind this pen. It’s not just about looking tactical or cool, it’s about actual functionality.

Of course, it still has all the legendary Space Pen technology that made the original famous. The pressurized ink cartridge writes upside down, works in extreme temperatures, functions underwater, and has a shelf life of over 100 years. That’s not marketing hype, that’s actual tested performance. These pens literally went to space and performed flawlessly in zero gravity.

What I really appreciate about the Measure Twice is how it represents a shift in how we think about everyday carry items. We’re constantly looking for ways to simplify what we carry, to have fewer, better things that do more. This pen nails that philosophy. It’s a precision writing instrument, a measuring tool, and an emergency device all in one sleek package that’s just over 5.5 inches long.

Fisher Space Pen took an icon and made it more relevant for 2026. The Measure Twice isn’t trying to replace your smartphone or be something it’s not. It’s just a really, really well-designed pen that happens to do a few extra things exceptionally well. And in a world of increasingly disposable products, there’s something genuinely appealing about a tool that’s built to last decades and actually earns its place in your pocket.

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This LEGO Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird Is A Bold Brick-based Tribute to Aviation’s Fastest Jet

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The Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird is a true aviation legend. Developed in the 1960s, this reconnaissance jet set the bar for speed and stealth, cruising at Mach 3 and reaching altitudes over 85,000 feet. Engineered primarily for high-speed, high-altitude intelligence gathering, it quickly became an icon of the Cold War era, untouchable by enemy missiles and outpacing everything else in the skies. Its titanium skin and advanced aerodynamics embodied the cutting-edge technology of its time, pushing the limits of engineering and daring. Now, this iconic aircraft has been reimagined in a completely different medium: LEGO bricks. A detailed, fan-made LEGO model of the SR-71 Blackbird is making waves for its impressive recreation of this iconic plane.

Designer: Buds 234

This LEGO model of the SR-71 distills the original aircraft’s spirit perfectly. With every detail meticulously crafted, the model captures the SR-71’s sleek, elongated form, its sharply defined nose, and its sweeping wings. The LEGO model includes functional flaps, retractable landing gear, and a fully realized cockpit, each piece integrated to honor the original’s groundbreaking design. This project, created by aerospace engineering student by the name of ‘Buds 234’, reflects both technical appreciation and a keen eye for detail—details that ensure this MOC (My Own Creation) goes beyond a typical LEGO build, bringing a model that’s both captivating and technically faithful to the real SR-71.

Designing a model with this level of complexity in LEGO form isn’t easy. Capturing the SR-71’s aerodynamic design with limited brick options requires an advanced understanding of both LEGO techniques and aviation engineering. The builder succeeded in creating a miniature that’s structurally sound while visually true to the original. While Buds 234 doesn’t detail how many bricks were used in the final build, he does mention adding several stickers and intricate features and details to retain the Blackbird’s authenticity.

The completed model stands on a supportive base with a plaque detailing the SR-71’s key specifications, offering an extra layer of historical and educational value, along with two suited minifigures that can even be fitted into the plane’s cockpit.

Rather than a simple exterior, the LEGO build includes a fully realized cockpit, retractable landing gear, and working flaps, giving it a touch of mechanical authenticity. Aside from merely capturing the Blackbird’s shape, it allows fans to explore its functional design too – making it a must-have for aerospace enthusiasts.

In a touching nod to the people behind the plane, this model includes a tribute to Marta Bohn-Meyer, NASA’s first female SR-71 pilot and flight engineer. Bohn-Meyer’s contributions to high-speed flight testing were instrumental in expanding knowledge of aerodynamics, and she left a lasting impact on the program.

The LEGO Ideas Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird is currently a fan-made submission on the LEGO Ideas forum – an online community where LEGO enthusiasts share their own creations. With over 1400 votes in just 3 days, the SR-71 Blackbird is well on its way to hitting the 10,000 vote mark, following which the MOC will be reviewed by LEGO’s internal team and hopefully turned into a retail box set! You can vote for the LEGO Ideas Lockheed SR-71 Blackbird on the LEGO Ideas website here.

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Prada Designs Spacesuit for the First Woman Astronaut On The Moon. Here’s what is different…

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When you think of spacesuits, luxury fashion probably doesn’t come to mind—but Axiom Space and Prada are changing that. Together, they’ve unveiled the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU), a next-generation spacesuit designed for NASA’s Artemis III mission, which will return astronauts to the Moon. This suit represents a groundbreaking shift in both form and function, blending the technical precision required for space exploration with the high-performance materials and design innovations Prada is known for. And it’s more than just a style statement: the AxEMU has been carefully crafted to support the historic lunar landing of astronaut Christina Koch, who will be the first woman to walk on the Moon.

Designers: Axiom Space and Prada

An Unlikely Collab between NASA and Prada

At first glance, the AxEMU may not look like the bulky spacesuits we’ve come to expect. In fact, that’s the point. Designed with a scalable and adaptable architecture, this suit breaks free from the rigid, one-size-fits-all approach of traditional space gear. The AxEMU is built to accommodate a wide range of body types, allowing astronauts from various anthropometric percentiles—meaning different heights, weights, and builds—to feel comfortable and functional in the suit. Whether you’re on the smaller side or fall into the larger percentile, the AxEMU adjusts to ensure maximum mobility, a critical factor for a mission as demanding as Artemis III.

Prada’s expertise in material science plays a key role here. The luxury fashion house worked closely with Axiom engineers to develop an outer layer that not only looks sleek but also performs under extreme conditions. Crafted from a reflective white material, this layer helps regulate temperature by reflecting the sun’s heat while simultaneously protecting the astronaut from lunar dust and radiation. While traditional spacesuits focus on pure functionality, the AxEMU integrates aesthetics with performance, combining Prada’s advanced sewing techniques with Axiom’s life support technology to create something truly revolutionary in both appearance and utility.

High-Tech Meets High-Street Fashion

What truly sets the AxEMU apart from its predecessors is its balance between high-end design and cutting-edge technology. The suit boasts enhanced safety systems, including a regenerable carbon dioxide scrubbing system that ensures astronauts can breathe safely during spacewalks lasting up to eight hours. It also features advanced cooling technology, which is crucial for maintaining comfort in the extremes of the lunar environment. Astronauts will be better equipped to perform complex tasks thanks to upgraded dexterity in the gloves—something previous spacesuits struggled with, often limiting the fine motor control astronauts need to manipulate tools or conduct experiments.

The helmet also offers significant upgrades, with an advanced visor that improves visibility in the harsh lighting conditions of the Moon’s surface. The design of the AxEMU is about more than just protection; it’s about enabling astronauts to push the boundaries of what’s possible in space exploration. Thanks to Prada’s involvement, the suit’s exterior may feel more like high-performance sportswear than traditional space armor. But make no mistake—this is gear built to survive the extreme cold and searing heat of the Moon’s surface, with every detail engineered to keep astronauts safe and functional in one of the most hostile environments known to man.

What Makes The AxEMU So Different?

Compared to existing spacesuits, the AxEMU is a leap forward in versatility and user experience. Most current spacesuits, like NASA’s EMU (Extravehicular Mobility Unit), were designed decades ago, with little adaptation for the variety of missions astronauts now face. The AxEMU, by contrast, is built with a flexible architecture that can evolve for different missions, from the lunar surface to low-Earth orbit. This flexibility allows Axiom Space to customize the suit for a wide range of environments and tasks, whereas older suits were often mission-specific, with limited adaptability.

Safety is another area where the AxEMU shines. Conventional spacesuits are built with basic redundancy, but the AxEMU integrates a more robust set of redundant systems, ensuring multiple fail-safes in life support and mobility functions. This suit also goes beyond standard temperature control, using Prada’s material expertise to provide better heat management, allowing astronauts to remain comfortable during long spacewalks, even in the harsh lunar environment. Furthermore, the AxEMU has been tested with advanced simulations, including underwater testing to mimic the reduced gravity on the Moon, setting a new standard for preparation and reliability.

Designed for Christina Koch: A Spacesuit for the First Woman on the Moon

Christina Koch will make history as the first woman to walk on the Moon, and the AxEMU has been designed with that momentous occasion in mind. While traditional spacesuits were largely designed for male astronauts, the AxEMU has been engineered with inclusivity at its core. One of the key differences lies in its customizability: unlike older suits that often required uncomfortable modifications for female astronauts, the AxEMU offers a better fit right from the start, making adjustments seamless and comfortable for a wide range of body types. This is particularly important for Koch, as a properly fitted suit means enhanced mobility and reduced fatigue during long spacewalks.

Additionally, the suit’s gloves, helmet, and overall design have been tailored for precision, allowing Koch to work more efficiently on the lunar surface. The improved dexterity of the gloves will enable her to conduct more intricate scientific tasks, such as collecting samples and performing experiments, without the restrictions of older spacesuit designs. For Koch, the first woman to explore the Moon, having a suit that adapts to her needs, rather than her adapting to the suit, marks a symbolic and practical step forward in space exploration, ensuring that future missions can be more inclusive.

The AxEMU represents the future of spacesuits—one where technology, design, and inclusivity come together to push the boundaries of human potential. With Christina Koch set to wear this groundbreaking suit during her historic moonwalk, the AxEMU is leading the way into a new era of space exploration, where astronauts of diverse backgrounds, genders, and physiques will have the tools they need to reach new frontiers.

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