Axiom Space is making spacesuits that will be used by NASA astronauts to explore the Moon’s south pole. In collaboration with luxury fashion brand Prada, Axiom is designing and rigorously testing the suits before they experience the harsh conditions on the lunar surface. On November 20, Axiom Space announced that it completed the first uncrewed thermal vacuum test of the suit, called Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU), to evaluate its capabilities to face the extreme temperatures of space.
The suits are being developed under a $228 million contract that NASA awarded to Axiom Space in 2022. They will be used during the Artemis 3 mission that is likely to launch in 2028.
About the latest test conducted in San Antonio, Texas, Russell Ralston, Axiom Space general manager of extravehicular activity, said in a statement – “This successful test produced data to inform the AxEMU’s performance and readiness for operational use on the lunar surface.”
“It was important to evaluate the thermal performance of the new materials we’ve incorporated into the suit design and to see how the suit’s advanced protection will enable astronauts to work at the lunar south pole and in the Moon’s permanently shadowed regions for at least two hours,” Ralston added.
Artemis suits vs Apollo suits
The new era of space exploration demands better suits equipped with refined technology. The suits used during the Apollo era were great for their time but they would be considered unsafe by today’s standards.
For starters, the Apollo-era suits were designed for short missions, they were stiff and heavy and offered limited mobility. Astronauts were unable to turn their torso, couldn’t bend down, kneel and they had to hop on the Moon because even walking normally was almost impossible.
Besides, the Apollo suits had shorter oxygen supply, limited cooling, less efficient carbon dioxide (CO2) removal and they were not durable against lunar dust. Apollo suits also had to be custom-made for each astronaut, thus, they were non-adjustable.
On the other hand, Axiom says the new suits will offer everything the Apollo era’s lacked – and much more. The new EMUs will be lighter weight with increased sizing and adjustability that will fit a wider range of people. It will also ensure enhanced flexibility, with boots engineered to withstand lunar temperatures and rough terrain.
Other features of the new EMU include lights and HD camera, advanced 4G/LTE communication, in-suit nutrition, biometric monitoring, regenerable CO2 scrubbing system and a portable life support system backpack to keep astronauts safe for up to eight hours. Since the suits will be better for long-duration moonwalks, they will allow astronauts to explore the surface for longer periods and handle tools with far greater ease.
“Building off NASA’s Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) spacesuit design, the Axiom Space spacesuits are created to provide increased flexibility, greater protection to withstand the harsh environment, and specialized tools to accomplish exploration needs and expand scientific opportunities,” says Axiom Space. “Using innovative technologies and a flexible design, these spacesuits will enable more exploration of the lunar surface than ever before.”
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