Oakley is taking its expertise from extreme sports to outer space. In partnership with Axiom Space, the brand known for high-performance eyewear is designing the visor helmet for NASA’s next-generation spacesuit, the one astronauts will wear when they return to the Moon on the Artemis III mission.
Built for the harsh, unpredictable conditions of space, the AxEMU visor combines Oakley’s 50 years of optical innovation with Axiom Space’s cutting-edge spacesuit technology. The result? A helmet that protects, enhances vision, and adapts to the Moon’s extreme environment, where shadows are darker, sunlight is blinding, and lunar dust is a constant challenge.
Key features include a two-piece folding visor for adjustable protection, a gold coating to reflect intense light, and special layers to block radiation and scratches. Even the way light passes through the visor has been fine-tuned to help astronauts see clearly, whether they’re working in direct sunlight or the deep shadows of the lunar south pole.
“The next person to walk on the Moon will be wearing Oakley’s High-Definition Optics,” says Ryan Saylor, Oakley’s SVP of Advanced Product Development. For a company used to making gear for skiers, cyclists, and athletes, space is the ultimate test.
Axiom Space chose Oakley for a reason. If a lens can handle snow glare and desert sun, it’s a good start for the Moon’s extremes. But space adds new dangers like micrometeors, infrared light, and temperatures that swing from scorching to freezing. The AxEMU visor has to do it all.
“The sun in space feels like it’s piercing your eyes,” says Axiom astronaut Koichi Wakata. Without the right protection, vision and safety could fail. That’s why this partnership matters. It’s what astronauts need to explore further than ever before.
When Artemis III lands, the suits will be a combination of aerospace precision and Oakley’s optical mastery. And if this works on the Moon, what’s next? Mars, deep space, and beyond. One thing’s certain: the future of space exploration will be seen through Oakley’s lens.
