As NASA prepares to send four astronauts on a manned flight around the Moon as part of the upcoming Artemis II mission, Axiom Space is carefully preparing its AxEMU spacesuit for the highly anticipated endeavor that will follow.
Artemis III, which NASA is targeting for 2027 at the earliest, will land astronauts on the lunar surface for the first time since 1972.
Axiom Space has been commissioned by NASA to build the next-generation spacesuit that will allow the two as-yet-unnamed astronauts to walk safely on the surface of Earth’s natural satellite.
To keep space fans updated on its work, the Texas-based company recently released a new video (below) showing the new spacesuit being put through its paces.
“The AxEMU offers unprecedented mobility,” says Axiom Space in a comment on the video. To make the point, the company includes a photo of someone doing the splits in the new spacesuit.
The AxEMU spacesuit features a number of important improvements compared to the Apollo-era A7L spacesuit.
As Axiom Space itself said, mobility improvements are at the forefront, with greater joint flexibility enabling movements such as crouching, kneeling and picking up objects such as rocks – movements that were extremely challenging in the much stiffer Apollo suit.
Fortunately, the new suit’s Earth weight is 20 pounds (9 kg) lighter than that of the old lunar spacesuit, meaning a small but noticeable weight reduction for the wearer when exposed to the moon’s lower gravity.
The new suit also supports up to eight hours of lunar surface activity, more than the Apollo suits, which provided four to seven hours of lunar exploration during regular operation. The extended time was made possible by the new backpack’s life support system, which has improved systems for cooling and air as well as for the delivery of food and water.
Other key benefits include the suit’s ability to withstand the extreme temperatures of the Moon’s south pole while providing protection from abrasive lunar regolith.
“The development of these next-generation spacesuits is a significant milestone in further expanding American leadership in space exploration and enabling a deeper understanding of the moon, the solar system and beyond,” Axiom Space’s website says.
NASA is relying on SpaceX for the Starship spacecraft that will carry the Artemis III astronauts to the lunar surface, but work to prepare the giant rocket is still ongoing. This year is a crucial year for the spacecraft’s development, and serious problems could force NASA to postpone its long-awaited crewed return to the moon.
