Artemis III Moon mission spacesuit prototype revealed

NASA and Axiom Space on Wednesday revealed the first prototype of the spacesuit that the Artemis III astronauts will wear on the Moon's surface. Called the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit, or AxEMU, the spacesuit incorporates the latest technology, enhanced mobility, and added protection from hazards to keep the lunar explorers safe.

"NASA's partnership with Axiom is critical to landing astronauts on the Moon and continuing American leadership in space. Building on NASA's years of research and expertise, Axiom's next-generation 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," said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson.

In a press release, NASA said that the AxEMU features the range of motion and flexibility needed to explore more of the lunar landscape. The next-gen spacesuit will fit a broad range of crew members, accommodating at least 90% of the US male and female population. Additionally, Axiom Space will keep on applying modern technological innovations in life support systems, pressure garments, and avionics as development continues.

The Moon spacesuit will be tested in a spacelike environment ahead of the mission.

"NASA is leading the way in enabling a growing space economy by leveraging industry capabilities and NASA's expertise to provide moonwalking services as safely, effectively, and efficiently as possible," said Lara Kearney, manager of NASA's Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility program.

When astronauts return to the Moon as part of @NASA Artemis III mission, they will be wearing Axiom Space's next-gen spacesuit. The new Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit will provide advanced capabilities. #AxEMU

— Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) March 15, 2023

Artemis III is the third in a series of increasingly complex missions aimed at establishing a sustained human presence on the Moon. Planned for 2025, Artemis III will mark humanity's first return to the lunar surface in more than 50 years.