Raphael ThysNASA and Axiom Space have revealed a prototype spacesuit for the Artemis program, which will see humanity return to the surface of Earth’s moon for the first time since the final Apollo mission over 50 years ago.
The prototype Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) lunar spacesuit was unveiled during an event at the NASA Space Center in Houstan, Texas, which included a practical demonstration that showed off the suit's impressive flaxability and key design improvements over its Apollo-era equivalent.
The suit's orange accented dark grey aesthetic was designed with the help of costume designed Esther Marquis, who worked on the Apple TV+ Sci-Fi series For All Mankind. However, during an actual mission, the classic NASA white look would be applied to the suit to help reflect the Sun’s light, and stop astronauts from overheating.
Image credit: (Axiom Space)
Spacesuits - or Extravehicular Mobility Units (EMUs) - are essentially self-contained spacecraft that come complete with all of the systems needed to keep astronauts alive in the brutal, radiation-filled environment that prevails beyond Earth's protective atmosphere.
The current generation of spacesuits in use on the International Space Station are based on 40-year-old technology developed during the space shuttle-era. However, EMUs designed for use on the Moon’s surface will have a different set of needs in terms of thermal requirements and improvements to an astronaut’s range of mobility.
Axiom Space showed off the impressive range of movement offered by the suit during the demonstration, while highlighting key improvements and design features.
Prior to a moonwalk, astronauts will enter the suit via a hatch in the back, sliding in feet first before shimmying down and stretching their hands into the flexible gauntlets. The hatch would then be sealed, and an outsized backpack containing the suite’s life support systems would be secured in place.
Live now: @Axiom_Space and NASA reveal the spacesuit prototype for @NASA_Astronauts to wear near the Moon’s South pole on #Artemis III. Remarks & suit demo – 10:30am EDT (1430 UTC)Student Q&A – 11:15am EDT (1515 UTC) https://t.co/40CHKOpZdy
During moonwalks, an astronaut's movements will be monitored and streamed through HD cameras mounted on the helmet bubble, while a light rig attached to the head will supply illumination during lunar nights.
Breaking from the historical norm, NASA will not own the spacesuits that it operates on the Moon. Instead, the agency will buy services from commercial partners - like Axiom Space - who will develop and provide hardware for missions, and ensure their safety and performance.
Axiom Space will continue to refine the suit ahead of its first outing on the Moon during the planned Artemis III mission. It’s also worth noting that the EMU’s sleek, dark grey look will be switched out for the usual NASA white for that historic mission. The reason for the change - beside the obvious symbolism - is rooted in the fact that light materials are far better at reflecting heat.
The four RS-25 engines of the SLS and its two massive solid fuel boosters captured prior to liftoff (Credit: NASA)
The SLS moments after igniting its engines (Credit: NASA)
Back in November last year, NASA successfully completed a 25-day Artemis I mission with an uncrewed version of the Orion spacecraft. The outing - which kicked off with the maiden flight for NASA’s enormous Space Launch System (SLS) rocket - put the myriad systems of the crew-rated spacecraft through its paces as it travelled a record-breaking 268,563 miles from Earth.
The agency is aiming to launch a crew aboard an Orion capsule for the first time during the planned 10-day Artemis II mission, which is expected to launch in late 2024. Artemis II will see a crew of four fly by the Moon for the first time since 1972. During this flight, astronauts will travel further from our planet than any human in the history of our species, while ensuring that the capsule is up to the task of keeping its crew safe during longer haul missions.
However, it will be the astronauts of Artemis III who will have the honor of returning human boots to the lunar surface. The mission has been given a tentative launch year of 2025, though this date is extremely susceptible to delay given the complexities and dangers of the mission, and the technologies and hardware that must be created to ensure its success.
Anthony is a freelance contributor covering science and video gaming news for IGN. He has over eight years experience of covering breaking developments in multiple scientific fields and absolutely no time for your shenanigans. Follow him on Twitter @BeardConGamer