Astronauts are heading to the Moon for the first time since 1972, and scientists are preparing specialized spacesuits for the next step: landing there.
By KR Callaway edited by Lee Billings
An AxEMU (Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit) spacesuit for NASA’s Artemis moon landing missions, as seen during a press conference in Milan, Italy, October 16, 2024.
MARCO BERTORELLO / Getty Images
Launched in March for a long-planned round-trip lunar flyby, NASA Artemis II the mission will bring four astronauts closer to the moon than any human for over 50 years. Simply traveling this far from Earth is a feat in itself, but the mission is in some ways already overshadowed by its planned follow-up, Artemis III which aims to take crew members to the surface of the Moon to launch a new era of 21st century lunar science and exploration. Of the many obstacles to overcome before the Artemis astronauts begin walking on the moon, perhaps the simplest but also most important is knowing what to wear.
A spacesuit isn’t so much an outfit as it is an anthropomorphic spaceship. The one designed for operations on the surface of the Moon must protect astronauts from dangerous cosmic radiation, extreme temperatures, lung-clogging lunar dust and the harsh vacuum of space. It also needs to carry its own supply of air, as well as water for cooling (and an occasional sip), while still having space to carry equipment that astronauts might need while in orbit or exploring other worlds. Designing a suit that meets all of these needs without significantly limiting movement and functionality is an extremely difficult task. But this arduous effort may prove essential for achieving longer stays in deep space, as well as for building the lunar space station and surface outposts envisioned for future Artemis missions.
Axiom Space, a US-based space infrastructure company, has been develop a spacesuit for the Artemis III mission since 2022. In 2024, the company unveiled its official design for the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU); testing of the suit is underway. The bulky white suit resembles, in many ways, previous generations of NASA spacesuits. But beneath the surface, new technology promises Artemis astronauts mobility on the Moon that their Apollo-era ancestors could only dream of.
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“It really pushes the boundaries of materials science,” says Paul Spana, curator and director of collections at the Space Center Houston museum. “A lot of new features will be introduced for the new suit that will be used for moonwalking on Artemis III.”
Like the original Apollo spacesuits, the AxEMU was built with the unique conditions of the Moon in mind. Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin describe The landscape of this mission’s near-equatorial exploration site is one of “magnificent desolation,” with a nonexistent atmosphere, dust all around, and temperatures that fluctuate between hotter and colder than anyone could experience — or endure — on Earth. Around the Moon’s south pole, where the Artemis astronauts will head, the conditions the new suit must withstand could be even more extreme.
“This region presents unique challenges, including steeper terrain, extreme temperatures and prolonged periods of light and darkness, conditions far harsher than those encountered by the Apollo astronauts on the lunar equator,” said Victoria Ugalde, a NASA spokeswoman. “The spacesuit will also need to operate on different landers, rovers and spacecraft.”
To prepare for this desolation, the new suit features robust temperature regulation and is scratch-resistant to reduce damage from jagged rocks and abrasive dust. The biggest change, however, is in its flexibility. While the Apollo spacesuits amounted to carrying an inflated balloon that greatly hampered movement, the AxEMU is designed with flexible joints that give mobility to astronauts kneeling, jogging or even doing the splits. In addition to allowing spacesuited astronauts to adapt to several different vehicles, the AxEMU’s improved range of motion should also make working on the lunar surface easier.
The new suit’s unique joints promise to be a major advancement over previous spacesuits, but the AxEMU’s relatively heavy weight remains a cause for concern. Axiom Space has not revealed the exact weight of its new suit, but it is higher than previous spacesuits, including the Apollo suits, which weighed nearly 200 pounds on Earth.
Even under the Moon’s low gravity, carrying several hundred pounds still feels heavy and could even cause injury, said NASA astronaut and physician Mike Barratt. Ars Technica– especially since astronauts are likely to also carry tools and equipment during long surface operations. Experts say the extra weight of the suit is not ideal.
“Weight is always a key factor in spacesuit design,” says NASA’s Ugalde, but she adds that the agency maintains “extremely high confidence” in the astronauts’ ability to perform the necessary mission tasks when the time comes to don their suits and set foot on the Moon. Then, when the Artemis III Astronauts will return, bringing with them lessons on how the suit works in situ, helping to give rise to a future generation of even more refined spacesuits.
“These lessons will shape future Artemis missions, expanding operational ranges and improving crew capabilities,” Ugalde said. “Each step contributes to NASA’s goal of a sustainable human presence on the Moon as a springboard to Mars.”
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