NASA chose Axiom Space for the Artemis III mission suits, suits that will be compatible with very different bodies. Space exploration is preparing to enter a new era.
The mission Artemis III will return Man to the Moon, two astronauts will carry out up to four exits on the surface of our natural satellite. The US space agency has today selected the company that will be responsible for designing the suits that Artemis astronauts will wear to explore the lunar landscape. Axiom Space will have this delicate mission, for an order worth 228.5 million dollars, minimum.
NASA chose Axiom Space for the Artemis III mission suits
Axiom is one of two companies NASA named as official partners for Artemis suits last June, the other being Collins Aerospace. For this order, the agency explains that it studied the proposals of the two companies and chose Axiom to design, develop, certify and produce the suits and equipment for the Extravehicular Activity Services (xEVAS) of Artemis III.
Axiom’s xEVAS will be designed from the combinations Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) that the agency designed for Artemis missions. They will adapt to many different crew member profiles and offer increased flexibility as well as specialized tools for exploration.
Combinations that will be compatible with very different bodies
The fact that Axiom designs suits for very different bodies is of particular importance as humanity prepares to explore the Moon and other more distant space destinations. If you recall, an all-female spacewalk had to be canceled in 2019 due to the lack of suitable equipment, which highlighted the need for design and availability of suits in various sizes.
Artemis III is to land the first woman on the surface of the Moon and Axiom has confirmed in its announcement that it will design an xEVAS suit for this female astronaut.
Space exploration is preparing to enter a new era
Michael Suffredini, President and CEO of Axiom Space, said:
Our modernized and upgradeable suits will allow rapid improvements to implement better and safer technologies over time, allowing our astronauts to always have robust and high performance equipment. We look forward to bringing these advanced tools to our space pioneers to aid the expansion of humanity.
Note that this command only affects the landing of Artemis III. The two companies will compete on other tenders, including for suits for recurrent landings and the development of suits for missions outside the ISS in low Earth orbit.