UNITED STATES: NASA has recently revealed the new spacesuits that astronauts will wear on the lunar surface during their upcoming mission with the Artemis program.
Unlike the bulky, less flexible suits worn during the Apollo missions over half a century ago, these suits will be sleeker and more flexible, allowing for easier movement on the lunar surface.
Axiom Space is developing NASA’s new spacesuits
NASA’s new spacesuits are known as the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Units (AxEMU). They are being developed by Axiom Space, the company that was awarded a $228.5 million contract by NASA to provide the suits for the first crewed moon landing in over 50 years.
The AxEMU suits will not only allow the first woman to walk on the moon, but they will also enable exploration of more of the lunar surface than ever before. To ensure the safety and comfort of the astronauts during their mission, the AxEMU suits have been designed using innovative technologies.
The suits will feature a white cover layer to reflect heat and protect the astronauts from extremely high temperatures, as well as a proprietary design that has been carefully developed based on years of lessons learned by NASA.
The suits will also provide greater flexibility than previous spacesuits, allowing for greater ease of movement and enabling astronauts to explore more of the lunar surface.
In addition to being more functional than previous spacesuits, the AxEMU suits are also sleeker and more stylish.
While a spacesuit worn on the moon must be white to reflect heat, Axiom has used a cover layer to conceal the suit’s design, making it look more streamlined and modern. Although the current prototype of the suit is dark in color, the final version will be different, including a new color.
The new spacesuits have sparked enthusiasm from NASA Administrator Bill Nelson, who claims that they would “offer chances for more people to explore and conduct science on the Moon than ever before.”
The Artemis program will enable a long-term, sustainable stay and serve as a staging area for astronaut missions to Mars, in addition to delivering the first female astronaut to the Moon.
Overall, the AxEMU spacesuits represent a significant advancement in technology and design, and they will play a crucial role in enabling astronauts to explore more of the lunar surface and conduct groundbreaking scientific research.
With their innovative features and sleek design, these spacesuits are sure to capture the imagination of people around the world and inspire a new generation of space explorers.
Also Read: NASA Receives $27.2 Billion Budget for Scientific Exploration in 2023–24
