In keeping up with the Artemis program’s expedited timeline, Axiom Space said it’s prepared to test its new spacesuits during an upcoming trip to low Earth orbit.
During a briefing at the 41st Space Symposium on Monday, company executives announced that they are almost finished with the critical design review of the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit, SpaceNews reported. Axiom Space is preparing to certify the next-generation spacesuit’s use in space in 2027, either on the International Space Station (ISS) or during the upcoming Artemis 3 mission.
New fit
NASA tasked Axiom Space with designing the first moonwalking spacesuits since the Apollo program, which will be worn by astronauts on the lunar surface as part of the agency’s Artemis missions. In 2023, the company unveiled the AxEMU spacesuit under its initial $228.5 million contract.
Earlier this year, Axiom Space completed its internal review of the new spacesuits and was in the process of testing AxEMU with NASA astronauts and engineers using simulated surface operations and tasks. NASA announced in February that it is evaluating whether AxEMU is ready to be worn by astronauts during the Artemis 3 mission, which has a targeted launch date of mid-2027. “A NASA-led critical design sync review, which is an agency-required technical evaluation, will confirm that the design’s hardware and systems are on track for final testing and delivery,” the space agency wrote.
During the recent briefing, Axiom Space executives said that the company is putting together a qualification suit to certify it for in-flight use by astronauts. The upcoming tests will simulate launch loads, as well as the temperatures and pressures experienced by astronauts in space, according to SpaceNews.
“It’s about as close as we can get to actual spaceflight on the ground, so that’s a very important test for us,” Russell Ralston, senior vice president and general manager of extravehicular activity at Axiom, said during the briefing.
Ready for launch
Axiom Space is aiming to have its next-generation spacesuit ready by next year to keep up with NASA’s new timeline for the Artemis missions.
Earlier in February, NASA announced a major revamp of its Artemis program. The agency is planning on launching an additional flight in 2027, under Artemis 3, to attempt a rendezvous of the Orion spacecraft with commercial landers in Earth orbit before using them to land astronauts on the Moon. During Artemis 3, NASA also said it may test the new spacesuits.
“Even just getting an astronaut in a suit in microgravity, we can learn a lot,” NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said at the time. “And take this information back to inform hardware development, whether it’s in the landers or in the suits, before Artemis 4.”
Axiom’s Ralston said that the company has provided NASA with a number of options for testing the spacesuit on the Artemis 3 mission and discussions are still ongoing. “It would certainly be a valuable exercise, but we just don’t have the specifics at this time,” he said.
If the company doesn’t get to fly the spacesuit on Artemis 3, it may instead opt to test it on board the ISS, according to SpaceNews. “The agency has made it clear we’re going to fly a suit next year,” Jonathan Cirtain, president and chief executive of Axiom Space, said during the briefing. “Is that to the International Space Station? Is that with the HLS providers? To be determined.”
