Axiom Space to deliver moonwalking spacesuits for NASA Artemis III mission

NASA has awarded Axiom Space the contract to build next-generation astronaut spacesuits for the Artemis III mission as the agency is prepping to land Americans on the surface of the Moon for the first time in over 50 years.

Axiom Space was selected for the task order, which has a base value of $228.5 million, following reviewing proposals from NASA's two eligible spacesuit vendors. The Houston-based company will be responsible for the design, development, qualification, certification, and production of its spacesuits and support equipment that will meet these key agency requirements for the Artemis III mission.

According to a press release by NASA, a future task order will be competed for recurring spacesuit services to support subsequent Artemis missions. Future task orders under the contract will consist of recurring lunar landings, the development of spacesuits for use in low-Earth orbit outside the International Space Station, and special studies. The agency is currently evaluating task order options for space station spacesuits.

This award is the first one under a competitive spacesuits contract, which will advance spacewalking capabilities in low-Earth orbit and on the Moon.

Building off NASA's xEMU spacesuit design, Axiom's Extravehicular Activity Services (xEVAS) are created to provide increased flexibility and specialized tools to accomplish exploration needs and expand scientific opportunities in space, the company said in a separate press release.

"Our team at Axiom Space is honoured to be awarded this first task order to build the next-generation spacesuit. We are excited to provide our expertise to meet NASA's exploration needs, while simultaneously serving our commercial customers in low Earth orbit and fulfilling future space station goals that enable a commercial space economy," said Michael Suffredini, Axiom Space's President & CEO.

NASA has selected @Axiom_Space to deliver a moonwalking system including advanced spacesuits for #Artemis III, the mission that will land Americans on the surface of the Moon for the first time in over fifty years. https://t.co/CbWf4YcSuF pic.twitter.com/d1mouJsU7o

— NASA Artemis (@NASAArtemis) September 7, 2022