NASA Unveils Sleek Spacesuit for Future Moonwalkers; How Does It Differ From Existing Extravehicular Mobility Unit?

For the first time, NASA and Axiom Space Inc. offered a limited peek at the redesigned spacesuits that is an upgrade of the ones used during the Apollo era.

The Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit, which will be used during the Artemis missions, was only partially shown at a presentation at Houston's Johnson Space Center to avoid revealing private information about the suit.

(Photo: MARK FELIX/AFP /AFP via Getty Images)
Chief Engineer Jim Stein wears the new spacesuit during the Axiom Space Artemis III Lunar Spacesuit event at Space Center Houston in Houston, Texas, on March 15, 2023.

Axiom Space Inc. Showcased Its AxEMU Prototype

In a press release, the company announced that they made sure their AxEMU has a cover layer to conceal the spacesuit's proprietary design, given that it needs to be white to reflect the heat while on the Moon so astronauts or its wearer will be protected from extremely high temperatures. Its white color is reminiscent of the spacesuit Apollo astronauts wore on their missions.

Axiom added that the display was the new suit's increased functionality, performance, and capability that is better than the spacesuits of the Apollo era and even today's extravehicular mobility unit (EMU) used by astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) during extravehicular activities (EVAs).

Jim Stein, an engineer at Axiom Space, showed that he could walk about, do squats, lunges, kneel down, do other exercises, and demonstrate how flexible the new suit's arms are.

Russell Ralston, Axiom Space's deputy program manager for Extravehicular Activity, said this is a big advance over the Apollo suits. He added that the Artemis astronauts would be more comfortable and able to maneuver more readily, such as reaching down to pick up rock samples.

But unlike previous NASA suits, the new AxEMU is a one-piece suit with a 'hatch' on the back, allowing astronauts to enter the suit from behind, Science Alert reported. It has a rigid torso that serves as the suit's main structure and arms and legs with a range of mobility joints.

The arms and legs may be swapped out for a more personalized fit. The backpack on the rear of the suit serves as a portable life support system that supplies heat and cooling, air to breathe, food, and water.

A helmet bubble is also attached to the rigid upper body, and a visor assembly with lights on top allows astronauts to view in shaded locations or at night on the Moon. HD video cameras will capture and transmit the EVAs so that those of us on Earth may follow along.

The new gloves are an important aspect of the design since astronauts would spend long hours on the lunar surface, which demands flexibility and durability. Working in the constantly shadowed craters near the lunar south pole will be very chilly. Thus, the new boots are completely insulated.

A Collaboration of Experts Made the AxEMU

As per NASA, their Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program office and suit designers at Axiom spent a decade researching the best suit to develop the AxEMU.

Vanessa Wyche, Director of NASA's Johnson Space Center, said during the unveiling ceremony that they had not had a new suit in over four decades since their suits were created for the Space Shuttle program.

NASA granted a $228.5 million contract to Axiom Space Inc. to provide the suits for the first Moon landing mission in more than 50 years. The space agency hopes to place two men on the moon's south pole by late 2025.

Axion Space Inc. has taken the data and research from NASA and developed a more practical spacesuit for astronauts. The company said they would keep working with the space agency to ensure a safe suit.