Oakley just landed the contract to design visors for the next humans walking on the Moon. The California-based eyewear company is partnering with Axiom Space to develop the optical system for the AxEMU spacesuit that will be worn during NASA’s Artemis III mission in 2027. Celebrating 50 years this year of designing performance eyewear for extreme sports, Oakley is taking on its most challenging environment yet.
Beyond the Atmosphere
Space and Moon travel present visual challenges that make a day at Whistler look like small potatoes. We’re talking about an environment where astronauts experience a new sunrise every 45 minutes in orbit, where shadows are impossibly dark, and sunlight blazes without atmospheric filtering. The lunar south pole adds another layer of complexity with permanently shadowed regions that transition instantly to areas of blinding solar exposure. While other eyewear brands might balk at the task, Oakley saw an opportunity to push their High-Definition Optics technology into uncharted territory.
The AxEMU visor is a deployable, two-part system that slides and stows based on lighting conditions. The inner visor optimizes visible light transmittance while reducing haze. Think of it as the foundation for crystal-clear vision in an environment where clarity could mean the difference between success and catastrophe. The outer layer features the gold coating you may have seen on spacesuits in the past.
While the 24k gold might look like a throwback to Apollo-era suits, the metallurgy here is far more sophisticated. Leveraging physics, but also looking pretty rad, gold’s natural properties make it ideal for reflecting infrared light and blocking UV radiation at levels that would be considered extreme even by Oakley’s standards.
Fly Me to the Moon with Style
Rather than just going with traditional aerospace suppliers, Axiom wanted to find partners who excel in extreme performance and style. Oakley joins Prada (handling the suit’s outer materials) and Nokia (providing cellular network capabilities) in what might be the most fashion-forward space mission in history. But this is also about recognizing that the best solutions can sometimes come from unexpected places.
Oakley’s expertise in scratch-resistant coatings, developed for everything from motocross to mountain biking, translates perfectly to protecting against lunar dust and micrometeorites. They simply understand how athletes’ need to quickly adapt to changing light conditions mirrors the rapid transitions astronauts face moving between shadowed craters and sunlit ridges. After all, astronauts are athletes operating at an entirely different level.
Spec Sheet
Model: Oakley x Axiom Space AxEMU Visor System
Technology: Next-generation High-Definition Optics (HDO)
Configuration: Two-part deployable visor with stowable design
Primary Coating: 24-karat gold reflective layer
Inner Visor: Tuned visible light transmittance, reduced haze optimization
Protection: Scratch-resistant coating, UV radiation shielding
Mission: NASA Artemis III lunar exploration
Target Launch: Mid-2027
Availability: Integrated with Axiom Space AxEMU spacesuit
Pricing & Availability
The AxEMU visor system is integrated into Axiom Space’s complete spacesuit package for NASA’s Artemis III mission, targeting launch in mid-2027. While civilian versions aren’t exactly on the horizon, Oakley’s involvement in the project will likely influence their terrestrial eyewear development for years to come, much like Omega has done with its watches.
Recap
Oakley x Axiom NASA Spacesuit
Oakley just landed the contract to make the visors for the upcoming Artemis III mission to the Moon. The shades are made of 24k gold and come with plenty of forward-thinking tech.
