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London, 17 March 2023.- Axiom Space revealed on the 15th of March the prototype spacesuit astronauts will wear during NASA’s Artemis III mission. NASA selected the company to develop the modern suits which were shown during an event at Space Centre Houston in Texas.
Axiom Space will deliver the moonwalking system, including the spacesuit, for the mission. The company is responsible for the design, development, qualification, certification, and production of flight training spacesuits and support equipment, including tools, to enable the Artemis III mission. They will test the suit in a spacelike environment prior to the mission.
The Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) builds on NASA’s spacesuit prototype developments and incorporates new technology, enhanced mobility and aims to provide protection from hazards on the Moon.
“Axiom’s next generation spacesuits will not only enable the first woman to walk on the Moon, but they will also open opportunities for more people to explore and conduct science on the Moon than ever before,” says Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator. “Our partnership is investing in America, supporting America’s workers, and demonstrating another example of America’s technical ingenuity that will position NASA and the commercial space sector to compete – and win – in the 21st century.”
NASA established the foundation for the xEMU with the agency’s Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) prototype development efforts. Axiom Space used the data behind the xEMU as the basis for the design and development of the AxEMU.
After Artemis III, the agency will complete future Artemis mission services under the Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services (xEVAS) contract. NASA is using the contract to meet the agency’s spacewalking needs for both the Moon and the International Space Station.
