Italian fashion house Prada and Axiom Space have unveiled a jointly developed next-generation lunar spacesuit layer scheduled to be worn during NASA’s upcoming Artemis IV moon landing mission, currently targeted for early 2028. 

The Houston-based space infrastructure developer announced Sunday that the liquid cooling and ventilation garment (LCVG) will act as an inner layer of the spacesuit and will protect astronauts “when they explore the lunar surface for the first time in more than 50 years.”

The partnership marks the first time a luxury fashion brand has been directly involved in spacesuit development. 

“The future of space exploration will not be built by any one entity alone, and our partnership with Prada is proof of that,” Axiom Space CEO Dr. Jonathan Cirtain said. 

PRADA PARTNERS TO MAKE SPACESUITS FOR NASA’S ARTEMIS III LUNAR MISSION

The inner-layer liquid cooling and ventilation garment designed by Prada and Axiom Space is unveiled at a press event in New York City, U.S., June 7, 2026.  (Heather Khalifa/Reuters / Reuters)

Prada reportedly contributed its expertise in advanced 3D modeling, high-tech knitting and specialized fabrics to help design the garment. 

“By bringing together the best in both aerospace engineering as well as luxury craftmanship and advanced product development, we have developed a garment that neither company could have created independently, and that is exactly the kind of cross-industry thinking that will define the next era of human spaceflight,” Cirtain added. 

Axiom said the garment is designed to be thermally regulating and comfortable enough to support spacewalks lasting up to eight hours, while also withstanding the harsh conditions of the lunar South Pole. 

“It manages their thermal environment, supports their breathing, and does it all while they’re pushing their bodies to the limit,” Axiom Space Senior Vice President of Spacecraft Development Russell Ralston said. “The work we have done with Prada has taken that capability to a level we could not have achieved alone.” 

NASA ANNOUNCES THREE NEW MOON MISSIONS AS AGENCY RACES TO BUILD PERMANENT LUNAR BASE BY END OF 2026

Sonya Gavankar McKay, director of digital strategy at Axiom Space; Russell Ralston, senior vice president and general manager of extravehicular activity at Axiom Space; Jonathan Cirtain, chief executive officer and president of Axiom Space; and Loren (Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)

According to the announcement, the LCVG pumps cold water through a network of tubes positioned over major muscle groups to draw heat away from the body and release it into space. It also includes a backup cooling system in case the primary system fails. 

The garment also features a separate ventilation system that continuously circulates oxygen across the astronaut’s face, removing exhaled carbon dioxide, which is then routed into a life-support system for filtering and reuse. 

The inner layer is designed to be worn directly against the skin beneath the suit’s outer protective AxEMU shell, which the companies previously unveiled in 2024. 

A close-up view of a lunar spacesuit developed by Prada and Axiom Space for NASA’s future moon missions. (Axiom Space )

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“When we unveiled the AxEMU, we announced that the collaboration between Prada and Axiom Space would continue beyond that first milestone,” Prada Group Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Sustainability Lorenzo Bertelli said. 

“Today, we are proud to present a new achievement born from the unique combination of Axiom Space’s pioneering expertise and Prada’s know-how in design, patternmaking, and advanced materials, ahead of humanity’s return to the lunar surface,” he continued. “We look forward to continuing this collaboration with Axiom Space, pushing boundaries and exploring new frontiers together.” 

Thailand’s Baht weakens despite portfolio inflows. A record USD 10.0 billion April trade deficit, driven by strong imports, pressures the Baht. Authorities warn of continued weakness if imports remain high, even with AI export growth.

Key Points

• USD/THB fell to 32.55 despite Thailand’s record April trade deficit of USD10.0bn, driven by portfolio inflows.
• Authorities cautioned that persistent strong imports could pressure the Baht, which has already depreciated 3.2% year-to-date.
• Factors like higher oil prices and strong USD demand are contributing to the Baht’s weakness, overshadowing AI-related export growth.

Record Trade Deficit Impacts Baht

Commerzbank’s FX analysts note that the USD/THB exchange rate experienced a decline to 32.55, primarily attributed to portfolio inflows. This movement occurred despite Thailand’s April trade deficit widening significantly to a record USD10.0 billion. This substantial deficit, considerably exceeding the Bloomberg consensus of USD5.3 billion, represents the seventh consecutive monthly deficit and marks the largest on record. The widening gap between imports and exports is a key concern for the Thai currency’s stability in the coming period.

Import Strength Fuels Baht Pressure

The Director-General of the Trade Policy and Strategy Office, Nantapong Chiralerspong, has issued a warning regarding sustained pressure on the Thai Baht (THB). This pressure is directly linked to the persistence of strong import levels, which are contributing to the widening trade deficit. While the government maintains a base-case forecast for export growth at 3% for the year, with potential ranges from -3% to +8%, the current import dynamics pose a significant challenge. The Baht has already seen a year-to-date depreciation of 3.2% against the US Dollar, even with growth in AI-related exports.

Global Factors and Baht Weakness

Beyond domestic trade imbalances, external factors are also exerting downward pressure on the Thai Baht. Since mid-April, the currency has demonstrated a steady weakening trend, influenced by higher global oil prices and a robust demand for the US Dollar. This combination of factors, including the record trade deficit and global economic influences, underscores the multi-faceted challenges facing the THB. Despite some positive export segments, the overall economic picture suggests continued vulnerability for the Thai currency.

Source : Thai Baht: Pressured by record deficit against US Dollar – Commerzbank

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Of course, it’s an uneven picture across the country. Some town centres appear to be thriving, and in those places you won’t notice much visible sign of criminality – though the NCA did find organised High Street crime gangs in every part of the UK during an operation last year. Research from the Centre for Cities points to Cambridge, York, Edinburgh and Manchester as relative success stories. But this reflects another problem: inequality, because it tends to be places that are already wealthier that have less High Street crime. Towns that are already struggling, meanwhile, are the ones that attract money-laundering gangs.

Walmart CEO John Furner said Wednesday that rising fuel costs are placing increasing pressure on consumers, with lower-income households showing growing signs of financial strain.

Speaking to reporters during Walmart’s shareholder week in Bentonville, Arkansas, Furner said the retailer continues to attract higher-income shoppers, who are visiting stores more frequently and spending more. At the same time, Walmart is seeing evidence that lower-income customers are becoming more cautious with their spending.

“We do continue to see the higher-income customers coming to Walmart,” Furner said. “We’re meeting more of them, they’re buying more, they’re coming more frequently. … And then we’ve seen some more signs of stress at the lower income levels.”

POPULAR BABY BOTTLES SOLD AT WALMART RECALLED AFTER 135 CHOKING HAZARD REPORTS

Walmart CEO John Furner (right) and Dan Bartlett, executive vice president, Corporate Affairs, Walmart Inc., speak at the Walmart headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026. (FOX Business)

One indicator comes from Walmart-owned Sam’s Club. According to Furner, Sam’s Club members are averaging about 9.8 gallons per fuel purchase, while filling up more often, suggesting shoppers are managing their budgets as gas prices remain elevated.

“That’s really the stress point — is the price of fuel,” Furner said.

Despite those challenges, Furner said Walmart remains well-positioned to serve customers through its broad merchandise assortment and low-price strategy.

“Walmart’s set up really well in any kind of economy,” he noted.

WALMART LAUNCHES HARDWARE OVERHAUL, NEW KIDS BRAND IN PRIVATE-LABEL PUSH

Customers shop at a Walmart store on May 13, 2026, in Chicago, Illinois.  (Scott Olson/Getty Images / Getty Images)

During the most recent quarter, the retailer rolled back prices on roughly 7,200 items, an increase from a year ago.

“I think we’ve done a really good job keeping our prices low in the quarter,” Furner said. “We had 7,200 rollbacks, that’s up from a year ago. We did that while maintaining and growing our gross margin.”

The comments came during Walmart’s annual shareholder week, which draws executives, investors and media to Northwest Arkansas each year.

U.S. consumer confidence dipped slightly in May as concerns about rising gas prices and inflation outweighed growing optimism about the labor market, according to Reuters. The reading, however, came in above economists’ expectations, providing some balance to the otherwise cautious consumer outlook.

WALMART WARNS SHOPPERS COULD FACE HIGHER PRICES AS FUEL COSTS SURGE, TAX REFUNDS DRY UP

An “Associates Week” sign is displayed at a Sam’s Club store in Bentonville, Arkansas, on Wednesday, June 3, 2026. (FOX Business / Fox News)

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Last month, Walmart warned that higher fuel costs could add pressure on shoppers, particularly as the temporary boost from tax refunds fades and inflation continues to outpace wage growth.

“I think higher tax returns muted some of the pressure related to higher fuel prices and as we’re in a period of time right now where those tax refunds are largely not coming in, I think consumers are going to feel more of that pressure from higher fuel prices,” Walmart CFO John David Rainey told CNBC following the company’s first-quarter earnings report.

“It’s something that we’re keeping a close eye on,” he added.

FOX Business’ Kristen Altus and Reuters contributed to this report.