Oakley has announced a groundbreaking collaboration with Axiom Space (in support of NASA) to develop a next-generation visor system for the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU), part of the upcoming Artemis III mission to the lunar south pole, currently aiming for a 2027 launch. This marks Oakley’s boldest expansion yet, from elite sports eyewear to cutting-edge space optics.

1. Mission-critical performance meets optical innovation

Astronauts operating on the lunar surface will face intense solar glare, deep shadows, lunar dust, and micrometeorite threats. To meet these extreme conditions, Oakley is integrating its advanced High‑Definition Optics (HDO) into a deployable two-part visor. This system includes a gold-coated outer shield to reflect harsh radiation, scratch-resistant coatings to combat lunar grit, and internal multi-layer coatings to enhance clarity.

2. Deployable protection for real-time adaptability

The visor is ingeniously designed to slide into position for different lighting scenarios. A secondary helmet bubble provides added protection against UV rays and moon dust. This level of adaptability is critical during extravehicular activities, where conditions can change rapidly across permanently shadowed regions of the lunar south pole.

3. Transferring decades of rugged performance to space

Oakley brings five decades of optical innovation—from mountain biking, skiing, and motorcross—to space. The company’s expertise in impact resistance, anti-fog coatings, and enhanced visual clarity for extreme sports directly informs the development of a visor capable of withstanding micrometeorite impacts and lunar dust abrasion.

4. A historic milestone in space‑wearable partnerships

This venture stands out as a nontraditional aerospace collaboration. By bringing Oakley’s consumer-grade innovation into NASA’s gear ecosystem, Axiom Space demonstrates its mission to integrate expertise across industries. Accessories from brands like Prada (for the spacesuit itself) and Nikon (cameras for the mission) highlight this multidisciplinary strategy.

5. Brand impact and cultural significance

For Oakley, joining an Artemis mission heralds a major brand evolution—from sports gear to bona fide space equipment. This partnership reinforces its image as a performance icon and opens new vistas in optics technology. For NASA and Axiom Space, this collaboration symbolizes openness to consumer-grade innovation and strategic diversification of technology partners.

6. Technical challenges and engineering excellence

Designing for the Moon means more than just bright light—it means temperature extremes, abrasive dust, and risk of impact. Oakley must ensure optical clarity, durability, and integration with the suit’s life-support systems. Purposes like pool-based testing at NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory reflect the rigor involved before launch.

7. What comes next? Lunar walks in Oakley

With Artemis III slated for mid-2027, this visor system is rapidly moving from concept to critical hardware. NASA must still finalize astronaut assignment, system testing, and mission-readiness certification. If successful, future lunar missions could adopt similar optics partnerships for Mars and beyond.

8. Eyewear crafted for Earth—and space

Oakley’s extension from slope to space helmet epitomizes the brand’s DNA: relentless pursuit of innovation under extreme conditions. By arming the first person to walk on the Moon’s south pole with next-generation optics, Oakley cements its legacy not just in sports, but in human exploration. This partnership signals a new era of cross-industry collaboration—and proves that sometimes, the skies aren’t the limit.

References

Axiom Space. (2025, July 12). Axiom Space, Oakley partner on spacesuit visor for Artemis missions. Spaceflight Now.

Gear Patrol. (2025, July 11). NASA’s Next‑Gen Spacesuit Even Comes with Oakley Shades. Gear Patrol.

Oakley Media Hub. (2025, July 12). Engineered for Astronauts: Oakley, Axiom Space Launch Next‑Gen Visor System. Oakley.

Vogue Business. (2025, July 11). The next humans to land on the moon will wear this Oakley space visor.

Houston Business Journal. (2025, July 11). Axiom Space teams up with big fashion brand for spacesuit visor design.

Aviation Week. (2025, July 11). Axiom Space adds Oakley, California optics pioneer, to its NASA spacesuit development effort.