Quantcast
ZME Science
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • ZME & more
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Our stance on climate change
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
Home Space

This is the new spacesuit that will be used by Artemis astronauts on the moon

They are more streamlined and flexible than Apollo suits, NASA said.

by Fermin Koop
March 17, 2023
in Space, Space flight
Edited and reviewed by Zoe Gordon
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

NASA has unveiled a prototype of the spacesuit that US astronauts will wear during their next mission to land on the moon. The new suit was designed and built by Axiom Space, a space services company, and comes with specialist features for the astronauts to do scientific experiments. It’s also said to be a better fit for female space travelers.

Image credit: NASA.

The design was exhibited at the Johnson Space Center in Houston during an event for the media and students hosted by Axiom Space. The existing spacesuits worn by US astronauts haven’t been fully redesigned since 1981 when NASA carried out the first orbital spaceflight. Now, with the moon back on the agenda, it was time for an upgrade.

“We have a lot of tough requirements on this suit,” Lara Kearney, manager of Nasa’s spacesuit and rovers team, said at the presentation event. “The moon is a hostile place, and the south pole is really going to be a challenge — a lot of thermal requirements, we are looking for improved mobility so our astronauts can operate more efficiently.”

A new suit for a new space era

NASA contracted Axion in 2022 to build the agency’s next-generation spacesuits to support lunar missions. Called the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit, or AxEMU, the spacesuit builds on NASA’s own prototype developments and incorporates more flexibility, greater protection from hazards on the moon and specialized tools for exploration.

The spacesuits will have a white outer layer to reflect heat, protecting from extremely high temperatures. The helmet has inbuilt lights and an HD video camera to allow videos from the moon to be seen in high definition back on Earth. The space boots can tolerate the freezing temperatures that are found in the permanently shadowed regions of the lunar surface.

ALSO READ:  A small asteroid just grazed past Antarctica. Why didn't anyone see it coming?

NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said the partnership with Axiom is critical to land astronauts on the moon in the near future. The new spacesuits “will not only enable the first woman to walk on the Moon, but they will also open opportunities for more people to explore and conduct science on the Moon than ever before,” he added in a media statement.

Having a well-fitting suit is critical for space flight as it prevents fatigue and physical harm. In 2019, NASA wanted to send two female astronauts to do a space walk from the International Space Station. But days before the walk they realized they didn’t have suits in the correct size for women. Now, the new design is expected to overcome these problems.

The Artemis mission, named for Apollo’s twin sister from Greek mythology, completed its first phase in December with the launch of NASA’s next-generation rocket and its Orion spacecraft on an uncrewed test around the moon and back. Artemis 2 will take four astronauts, to be announced next year, on another out-and-back mission to the moon.

If that flight is successful, NASA will work on Artemis 3 – an expedition to the lunar surface. It will be the first ever to send a woman to walk on the moon. NASA has also promised that the following missions will also include a person of color on the moon. The program ultimately seeks to establish a lunar base as a previous step for Mars exploration.

Tags: Artemisnasa

ShareTweetShare
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • ZME & more

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Future
  • Space
  • Features
  • ZME & more
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Our stance on climate change
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2021 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

Don’t you want to get smarter every day?

YES, sign me up!

Over 35,000 subscribers can’t be wrong. Don’t worry, we never spam. By signing up you agree to our privacy policy.