At the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas, on March 15, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), along with its partner Axiom Space, unveiled a new generation of astronaut suits designed for the upcoming Artemis III mission, which aims to return humans to the Moon.
The new suit is called the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU), designed and produced by Axiom Space. (Photo: Axiom Space)
The new suit, named Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU), was designed and manufactured by Axiom Space under a contract worth $225.5 million signed with NASA. This suit features enhanced flexibility and superior thermal protection compared to the suits used during the Apollo missions over 50 years ago. It is built to withstand extreme pressures and includes multiple layers of protection, a life support backpack, a lighting system, and a high-resolution camera mounted on the helmet.
The Chief Engineer of Axiom Space, Jim Stein, took the stage at NASA to introduce this astronaut suit. The demonstration suit is black with blue and orange accents to “mark its exclusive design.” However, the final version will be traditionally white to effectively counteract thermal radiation from the Sun and protect astronauts from the harsh temperature conditions on the Moon.
Russell Ralston, Deputy Director of Axiom Space’s Extravehicular Activities program, noted that the Axiom Space backpack in the suit will play a crucial role in ensuring astronauts can work in space for up to 8 continuous hours.
The multi-layer suit includes an inner layer that retains air like a balloon and an outer layer that maintains the suit’s shape. Additionally, it features an insulating layer made of various fabrics to protect astronauts from drastic temperature changes on the Moon. The outer layer is designed to be dust-resistant and tear-proof when in contact with sharp rocks and debris. Axiom Space describes the newly unveiled suit as a “revolution” since the Apollo missions.
The Artemis III mission is scheduled to take place in late 2025, approximately one year after the Artemis II mission, which will see the Orion spacecraft and four astronauts (three Americans and one Canadian) orbiting the Moon. NASA will announce the crew for this mission on April 3. Artemis III will be the first mission to land in the Moon’s South Pole region.
