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Key Takeaways
- Artemis suits utilize a commercial service model, shifting ownership from NASA to private partners like Axiom Space.
- New mobility bearings allow walking and kneeling, eliminating the “bunny hop” movement required during the Apollo era.
- Advanced environmental protection systems shield astronauts from sharp lunar dust and extreme South Pole temperatures.
Lunar Armor
The return of humanity to the lunar surface requires more than just a powerful rocket and a spacecraft. It demands a sophisticated personal spacecraft that allows human beings to survive and work in one of the most hostile environments known. The Artemis program, led by NASA, represents a sustained effort to establish a long-term presence on the Moon. Central to this mission is the development of next-generation spacesuits. These are not merely garments but complex machines designed to sustain life, facilitate scientific research, and protect explorers from hazards that are far more challenging than those encountered in low-Earth orbit.
For decades, the image of an American astronaut has been defined by the bulky white Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) used on the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station. While reliable, that technology dates back to the late 1970s. The requirements for walking on the Moon, specifically at the lunar South Pole, necessitate a complete reimagining of what a spacesuit can be. The Artemis program introduces the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU), a system that prioritizes mobility, sizing inclusivity, and robustness against the abrasive lunar regolith.
This article examines the engineering, design philosophy, and operational capabilities of the Artemis spacesuits. It explores how these systems differ from their predecessors and identifies the technological advancements that make sustained lunar exploration possible.
The Shift to Commercial Services
A defining characteristic of the Artemis spacesuit development is the procurement model. Historically, NASAdesigned, owned, and operated its spacesuits. Engineers at government centers would develop the specifications, and contractors would build the hardware to those exact prints. The agency bore the cost of development, maintenance, and upgrades.
For Artemis, the agency adopted the Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services (xEVAS) contract model. Under this structure, NASA defines the performance requirements – how long the suit must last, what temperatures it must withstand, and how much radiation it must block – but leaves the specific design and engineering solutions to private industry. The agency purchases data and suit services rather than the hardware itself.
Axiom Space, a Houston-based company, secured the task order to develop the moonwalking system for Artemis III. This approach encourages innovation and speed, allowing commercial partners to leverage supply chains and manufacturing techniques that might be unavailable to a federal agency. Axiom Space retains ownership of the suits and can potentially lease them to other commercial customers in the future, fostering a broader lunar economy.
The Operating Environment: Why a New Suit?
To understand the engineering behind the AxEMU, it is necessary to understand the environment where it will operate. The Apollo missions landed in the equatorial regions of the Moon, where lighting conditions were predictable and terrain was relatively flat. Artemis targets the lunar South Pole.
The South Pole presents extreme contrasts. The sun sits low on the horizon, creating long, shifting shadows that can obscure terrain hazards. Temperatures in permanently shadowed regions can drop to -400 degrees Fahrenheit (-240 degrees Celsius), while sunlit areas can reach 260 degrees Fahrenheit (127 degrees Celsius). The suit must maintain a comfortable internal temperature for the astronaut despite these massive external fluctuations.
The primary enemy of lunar hardware is regolith. This lunar dust is not like the smooth sand found on Earth. Because there is no wind or water erosion on the Moon, the dust particles remain jagged and sharp, acting like microscopic shards of glass. During the Apollo missions, dust fouled zippers, clogged joints, and abraded fabrics. The AxEMU must feature dust-tolerant bearings and cover layers that prevent these particles from penetrating the system’s mechanical interfaces.
Architecture of the AxEMU
The Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit is a rear-entry planetary spacesuit. This architecture differs from the waist-entry design of the current station suits. In a rear-entry system, the backpack – known as the Portable Life Support System (PLSS) – swings open like a refrigerator door. The astronaut climbs into the suit through this hatch, which is then sealed behind them. This design eliminates the need for a zipper across the torso, which serves as a potential failure point and restricts mobility.
The Hard Upper Torso (HUT)
The core of the suit is the Hard Upper Torso. This rigid shell provides the mounting points for the arms, helmet, and life support backpack. It acts as the pressure vessel that maintains the internal atmosphere. Unlike the fiberglass shells of the past, modern HUTs utilize advanced composite materials that offer a superior strength-to-weight ratio. The structure must withstand the pressure differential between the vacuum of space and the internal oxygen atmosphere without deforming.
The Helmet and Visor Assembly
The helmet provides the astronaut with visibility and information. It features a wide field of view, allowing the wearer to look down at their chest controls and feet – a capability essential for walking over uneven terrain. The bubble is made of high-impact pressure polycarbonate.
Over the pressure bubble sits the protective visor assembly. This includes a gold-coated sun visor that shields the astronaut’s eyes from intense solar glare and harmful ultraviolet radiation. For the South Pole, where lighting angles are low and shadows are deep, the helmet incorporates high-intensity LED lights mounted on the sides. These lights illuminate the work area and help explorers distinguish between a shadow and a deep crater.
Inside the helmet, a communications cap – often called a “Snoopy cap” in previous eras – is replaced by integrated audio systems. Microphones and speakers are built into the helmet structure, reducing the equipment the astronaut must wear on their head. Voice-activated controls allow the crew to adjust settings without taking their hands off their tools.
Mobility and Joint Systems
The most visible improvement in the AxEMU is the range of motion. Apollo astronauts were famous for their “bunny hop,” a mode of locomotion necessitated by the stiffness of the A7L suits. The internal pressure of the suit naturally wants to force the limbs into a straight, extended position. Bending a joint requires physical exertion to compress that volume of gas.
The AxEMU incorporates advanced toroidal bearings in the shoulders, arms, waist, hips, knees, and ankles. These bearings allow the suit to rotate and flex with the human body rather than fighting against it.
- Waist Bearing: Allows the astronaut to twist at the torso.
- Hip Bearing: Enables natural walking gait and the ability to kneel.
- Ankle Joint: Provides stability on uneven surfaces and fine motor control for balance.
This mobility is not just for comfort; it is a safety requirement. If an astronaut falls on the lunar surface, they must be able to stand up unassisted. The range of motion in the AxEMU allows a fallen crew member to push themselves up from a prone position or roll over to regain their footing, a maneuver that was difficult and exhausting in line generations of hardware.
Gloves and Dexterity
The gloves are arguably the most complex component of the pressure garment. They are the astronaut’s interface with the world. They must be thin enough to allow for tactile feedback and fine motor skills – such as manipulating small tools or collecting samples – yet thick enough to protect against thermal extremes and micrometeoroid strikes.
The AxEMU gloves feature heated fingertips to prevent the extremities from freezing when in contact with cold equipment or regolith in shadowed regions. The outer layer includes abrasion-resistant patches made from specialized engineered textiles. These patches are strategically placed in high-wear areas. The wrist assembly includes a rotary bearing, allowing the hand to rotate freely without twisting the entire sleeve, reducing forearm fatigue during long spacewalks.
The Lower Torso Assembly
The lower portion of the suit includes the waist, breeches, and boots. The boots are specifically engineered for the Moon. Unlike the soft boots used for spacewalks on the space station, lunar boots need a rugged sole capable of gripping loose soil and rock. They act as hiking boots for a different world. The sole material must survive contact with surfaces that range from cryogenic cold to baking heat without cracking or melting. The interface between the boot and the ankle joint includes dust covers to prevent regolith from grinding into the mechanical components.
Portable Life Support System (PLSS)
The backpack of the suit is the Portable Life Support System. It is a miniaturized spacecraft that carries all the consumables and machinery required to keep the astronaut alive.
Atmosphere Management
The PLSS regulates the suit’s internal pressure. For lunar operations, the suit typically operates at a lower pressure than sea level, often around 4.3 psi or slightly higher depending on the pre-breathe protocol. This lower pressure improves flexibility. The system circulates 100% oxygen for breathing and ventilation.
Carbon dioxide removal is handled by a regenerable system. In the Shuttle era, suits used lithium hydroxide canisters that had to be replaced after every spacewalk. The Artemis suits utilize a Rapid Cycle Amine (RCA) system. This technology continuously scrubs carbon dioxide from the ventilation loop and expels it into space. The RCA system swings between two beds: while one absorbs CO2, the other is exposed to vacuum to release the trapped gas. This regenerative capability allows for longer missions without the need to carry bulky replacement canisters.
Thermal Control
Regulating body temperature is a dynamic challenge. The astronaut generates heat through physical exertion, and the environment adds or subtracts heat depending on the sun angle. The PLSS pumps cooling water through a Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (LCVG) worn next to the astronaut’s skin. This garment is a mesh bodysuit woven with tubes. The water absorbs metabolic heat and carries it to the PLSS.
Heat rejection in the AxEMU utilizes sophisticated evaporation technologies. The system sprays the warm water against a porous membrane or a specialized metal plate exposed to the vacuum. The water sublimates (turns from liquid to gas), taking the heat with it. This creates a cooling effect that chills the water returning to the astronaut. The system automatically adjusts the flow rate to keep the crew member comfortable, responding to changes in workload.
Power and Avionics
High-energy-density lithium-ion batteries provide the electrical power for the suit’s fans, pumps, radios, and lights. These batteries are designed for safety, with robust shielding to prevent thermal runaway. The avionics system manages the health of the suit, monitoring oxygen levels, battery life, and radiation exposure.
A display and control unit mounted on the chest allows the astronaut to monitor these systems. However, the Artemis suits increasingly rely on heads-up displays (HUD) or internal visual cues to keep the astronaut informed without requiring them to look down constantly.
Sizing and Anthropometry
One of the significant limitations of historical spacesuits was their limited sizing. The Apollo suits were custom-made for specific men. The Shuttle suits used modular components but still struggled to accommodate smaller female frames, leading to logistical issues and crew scheduling conflicts.
Axiom Space prioritized inclusivity in the design of the AxEMU. The suit uses a modular architecture with interchangeable components that can accommodate a much wider range of body sizes, from the 1st percentile female to the 99th percentile male. This flexibility ensures that crew assignments are based on skill and mission needs rather than physical dimensions. The fit of the suit is vital for preventing injury. A suit that is too loose can cause chafing and impact injuries as the astronaut moves around inside the hard shell, while a suit that is too tight restricts blood flow and movement.
| Feature | Apollo A7L Suit | Axiom AxEMU |
|---|---|---|
| Entry Method | Zippered (Torso/Crotch) | Rear-Entry Hatch |
| CO2 Removal | Lithium Hydroxide (Single Use) | Rapid Cycle Amine (Regenerable) |
| Mobility | Limited (Bunny Hop) | High (Walk, Run, Kneel) |
| Sizing | Custom Fitted | Modular (1st to 99th Percentile) |
| Dust Protection | Minimal | Advanced Barriers & Seals |
| Electronics | Analog / Radio | Digital / HD Video / HUD |
Testing and Validation
Before any astronaut steps onto the lunar surface, the AxEMU undergoes rigorous testing. This validation process is designed to uncover failures in a controlled environment.
Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL)
The Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in Houston remains the premier training facility for spacewalks. It is a massive pool containing full-scale mockups of spacecraft. While the pool simulates microgravity effectively, simulating partial lunar gravity (one-sixth of Earth’s) requires adjusting the weights and floats on the suit to create a specific buoyancy profile. Astronauts practice walking on the pool floor, setting up solar arrays, and collecting geological samples to verify the suit’s range of motion.
Thermal Vacuum Chambers
To test the thermal protection systems, the suits are placed in vacuum chambers that replicate the lack of atmosphere and the temperature extremes of space. These tests verify that the PLSS can maintain a safe internal temperature while the exterior is blasted with simulated solar radiation or plunged into deep freeze. The materials are checked for outgassing – the release of trapped gas that could contaminate sensitive optics.
Analog Missions
Field tests in Earth environments that resemble the Moon provide data on how the suit interacts with dust and terrain. Locations with volcanic geology, such as flows in Arizona or Iceland, serve as proving grounds. During these analog missions, engineers evaluate how the boots grip loose rock and how the joints handle dust exposure over extended periods.
The Orion Crew Survival System (OCSS)
It is important to distinguish between the surface suit (AxEMU) and the suit worn during launch and reentry. The Orion Crew Survival System (OCSS) is a bright orange pressure suit designed for the interior of the Orion spacecraft.
The OCSS is a safety garment. It protects the crew in the event of a cabin depressurization during the dynamic phases of flight. It is lighter and softer than the surface suit. While it can connect to the spacecraft’s life support system, it does not carry a heavy PLSS backpack. It includes survival gear, such as a signaling mirror, knife, and radio beacon, in case the capsule lands off-course in the ocean. The OCSS is not designed for walking on the Moon; its primary function is to keep the astronaut alive until they return to Earth or reach stable orbit.
Materials Science and Layering
The outer layer of the spacesuit is the first line of defense. While prototype versions of the AxEMU were displayed with a dark cover layer to conceal proprietary design elements, the flight versions are white. White reflects solar radiation, helping to minimize the heat load on the cooling system.
The suit comprises multiple layers of engineered materials:
- Orthofabric: The outer shell, a blend of Gore-Tex, Kevlar, and Nomex, provides abrasion resistance, flame retardance, and thermal insulation.
- Aluminized Mylar: Multiple layers of this insulation act like a thermos, preventing heat transfer via radiation.
- Neoprene-Coated Nylon: This creates the pressure bladder, the airtight balloon that holds the oxygen.
- Restraint Layer: A fabric layer that shapes the bladder and prevents it from expanding like a beach ball, ensuring the suit maintains its human-like form.
| Layer | Function | Key Materials |
|---|---|---|
| Outer Layer | Abrasion, Thermal, Micro-meteoroid | Orthofabric (Teflon/Nomex/Kevlar) |
| Insulation | Radiant Heat Barrier | Aluminized Mylar |
| Restraint | Structural Integrity | Dacron / Polyester |
| Pressure Bladder | Gas Retention | Urethane-Coated Nylon |
| Liner | Comfort / Friction Reduction | Nylon Tricot |
| LCVG | Active Cooling | Spandex / Water Tubing |
Integration with Artemis Hardware
The AxEMU operates as part of a larger ecosystem. It must integrate physically and digitally with the Human Landing System (HLS), which for the initial landings is the Starship developed by SpaceX. The suit needs to connect to the vehicle’s recharge stations to replenish oxygen and battery power between moonwalks.
The suit’s communications system links to the lunar gateway and orbital relays to transmit high-definition video back to Mission Control. This allows scientists on Earth to see exactly what the astronaut sees in real-time, guiding the selection of geological samples. The inclusion of high-speed data links transforms the astronaut from a solitary observer into the hands of a global scientific team.
The Human Factor
Beyond the nuts and bolts, the spacesuit design considers the psychological and physiological needs of the wearer. Comfort is a major factor in performance. A pressure point in a boot or a glove that rubs the wrong way can become excruciating after six hours of a spacewalk, distracting the astronaut and potentially compromising the mission.
The water delivery system within the suit has been redesigned to be safer. In 2013, an astronaut on the ISS experienced a terrifying incident where water leaked into his helmet, covering his eyes and nose. The Artemis suits feature improved moisture management and separate water loops to prevent such leaks from migrating into the breathing volume.
Books such as Packing for Mars detail the bizarre and often overlooked challenges of human hygiene and comfort in space. The Artemis suits incorporate advanced absorption garments (maximum absorbency garments) for waste management, a crude but necessary reality of long-duration EVAs.
Future Applications: Mars and Beyond
The data gathered from the AxEMU on the lunar surface feeds directly into the planning for Mars. The Red Planet poses different challenges. It has a thin atmosphere (mostly carbon dioxide) and higher gravity than the Moon (about 38% of Earth’s). A Mars suit needs to be lighter than the lunar variant because the astronaut weighs more on Mars.
However, the dust mitigation strategies and the high-mobility bearings developed for Artemis are directly applicable. The reliability of the regenerable life support system is vital for Mars missions, where resupply from Earth is impossible. Artemis serves as the operational testbed where these technologies mature.
Summary
The Artemis spacesuits represent a significant leap in aerospace engineering. By transitioning to a commercial service model, NASA has leveraged private sector innovation to solve the problems of lunar exploration. The AxEMU addresses the specific hazards of the lunar South Pole – extreme cold, dynamic lighting, and abrasive dust – while offering a level of mobility that allows astronauts to walk, kneel, and work with natural human movements. These suits are the interface between the fragile human body and the raw cosmos, enabling the scientific discovery and sustained presence that defines the Artemis era.
10 Best Selling Books About NASA Artemis Program
NASA’s Artemis Program: To the Moon and Beyond by Paul E. Love
This book presents a plain-language tour of the NASA Artemis program, focusing on how the modern Moon campaign connects the Space Launch System, Orion spacecraft, and near-term Artemis missions into a single lunar exploration roadmap. It emphasizes how Artemis fits into long-duration human spaceflight planning, including systems integration, mission sequencing, and the broader Moon-to-Mars framing.
NASA’s Artemis Program: The Next Step – Mars! by Paul E. Love
This book frames Artemis as a stepping-stone campaign, describing how lunar missions are used to mature deep-space operations, crew systems, and mission architectures that can be adapted beyond cislunar space. It connects Artemis mission elements – such as Orion and heavy-lift launch – back to longer-horizon human spaceflight planning and the operational experience NASA expects to build on the Moon.
The Artemis Lunar Program: Returning People to the Moon by Manfred “Dutch” von Ehrenfried
This book provides a detailed narrative of the Artemis lunar program’s rationale, structure, and constraints, including how policy, budget realities, and technical dependencies shape mission design and timelines. It places current lunar exploration decisions in context by contrasting Artemis-era choices with Apollo-era precedents and post-Apollo program history.
Returning People to the Moon After Apollo: Will It Be Another Fifty Years? by Pat Norris
This book examines the practical obstacles to sustained lunar return after Apollo and explains how modern programs – including Artemis – try to solve persistent challenges like cost growth, schedule instability, and shifting political priorities. It focuses on the engineering and program-management realities that determine whether a lunar initiative becomes repeatable human spaceflight or remains a one-off effort.
The Space Launch System: NASA’s Heavy-Lift Rocket and the Artemis I Mission by Anthony Young
This book explains the Space Launch System as the heavy-lift backbone for early Artemis missions and uses Artemis I to illustrate how design tradeoffs translate into flight test priorities. It describes how a modern heavy-lift rocket supports lunar exploration objectives, including Orion mission profiles, integration complexity, and mission assurance requirements for human-rated systems.
NASA’s SPACE LAUNCH SYSTEM REFERENCE GUIDE (SLS V2 – August, 2022): NASA Artemis Program From The Moon To Mars by National Aeronautics and Space Administration
This reference-style book concentrates on the Space Launch System’s role in the NASA Moon program, presenting the vehicle as an enabling capability that links Artemis mission cadence to payload and performance constraints. It is organized for readers who want an SLS-centered view of Artemis missions, including how heavy-lift launch supports Orion and the broader lunar exploration architecture.
RETURN TO THE MOON: ORION REFERENCE GUIDE (ARTEMIS 1 PROJECT) by Ronald Milione
This book focuses on the Orion spacecraft and uses Artemis I as the anchor mission for explaining Orion’s purpose, deep-space design, and how it fits into NASA’s lunar exploration sequencing. It presents Orion as the crewed element that bridges launch, cislunar operations, and reentry, highlighting how Artemis missions use incremental flight tests to reduce risk before crewed lunar flights.
Artemis Plan: NASA’S Lunar Exploration Program Overview: Space Launch System (SLS) – Orion Spacecraft – Human Landing System (HLS) by National Aeronautics and Space Administration
This book presents a program-level overview of Artemis, treating the Space Launch System, Orion, and the Human Landing System as an integrated lunar campaign rather than separate projects. It reads like a structured briefing on how NASA organizes lunar exploration missions, with attention to architecture choices, mission roles, and how the components fit together operationally.
Artemis After Artemis I: A Clear Guide to What’s Next for NASA’s Moon Program, 2026-2027 and Beyond by Billiot J. Travis
This book describes the post–Artemis I pathway and focuses on how upcoming crewed flights and landing preparations change operational demands for Orion, launch operations, and lunar mission readiness. It is written for readers tracking the Artemis schedule and mission sequencing who want a straightforward explanation of what has to happen between major milestones.
Artemis: Back to the Moon for Good: The Complete Guide to the Missions, the Technology, the Risks, and What Comes Next by Frank D. Brett
This book summarizes Artemis missions and associated lunar exploration systems in a single narrative, tying together mission purpose, technology elements, and the operational steps NASA uses to progress from test flights to sustained lunar activity. It emphasizes practical comprehension of Artemis hardware and mission flow for adult, nontechnical readers following lunar exploration and human spaceflight planning.
Appendix: Top 10 Questions Answered in This Article
Who manufactures the spacesuits for the Artemis missions?
Axiom Space manufactures the surface suits, known as the AxEMU, under a commercial contract with NASA. The agency does not own the suits but purchases the data and services provided by them.
How does the Artemis suit differ from the Apollo suit?
The Artemis suit features advanced bearings in the waist, hips, and knees that allow for walking and kneeling, whereas the Apollo suits were stiff and required astronauts to hop. The new suits also use a rear-entry hatch rather than a zipper, improving durability and ease of entry.
What is the purpose of the Rapid Cycle Amine system?
The Rapid Cycle Amine system is a technology used in the life support backpack to continuously remove carbon dioxide from the suit’s atmosphere. Unlike the single-use lithium hydroxide canisters used in the past, this system regenerates itself, allowing for longer missions without consumable filters.
Why are the flight suits white instead of the dark colors seen in prototypes?
The flight suits are white to reflect solar radiation and protect the astronaut from overheating in the intense sunlight of space. The dark colors seen on prototypes were a cover layer used to conceal proprietary engineering details during public reveals.
How does the suit protect against lunar dust?
The AxEMU utilizes sealed bearings and specialized cover layers to prevent sharp lunar regolith from entering mechanical joints. The boots feature rugged soles and dust covers to protect the ankle mechanisms from the abrasive soil found at the lunar South Pole.
What is the distinction between the AxEMU and the OCSS?
The AxEMU is the robust surface suit designed for walking on the Moon and carries its own life support system. The OCSS (Orion Crew Survival System) is an orange pressure suit worn inside the spacecraft during launch and reentry to protect the crew during cabin depressurization events.
How does the suit handle extreme temperatures at the lunar South Pole?
The suit uses a combination of insulation layers, including aluminized Mylar, to block radiant heat transfer. Active thermal control is provided by a water-cooling garment worn against the skin, which circulates water to a sublimator or membrane evaporator in the backpack to reject metabolic heat.
Can the Artemis suits fit different body sizes?
Yes, the AxEMU is designed with a modular architecture that accommodates a wide range of body types, from the 1st percentile female to the 99th percentile male. This inclusivity ensures that crew selection is based on skills rather than the ability to fit into a specific size of hardware.
How do astronauts communicate while in the suit?
The helmet features integrated microphones and speakers, eliminating the need for the separate “Snoopy cap” worn in previous eras. The system connects to the lunar gateway and orbiting relays to transmit voice and high-definition video to Mission Control.
What role does the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory play in suit development?
The Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory is a massive pool where astronauts train in underwater conditions that simulate reduced gravity. Engineers weigh the suits specifically to mimic the one-sixth gravity of the Moon, allowing crews to practice walking and working procedures before flight.
Appendix: Top 10 Frequently Searched Questions Answered in This Article
How much does an Artemis spacesuit cost?
The exact unit cost of an AxEMU is not public because it is part of a multi-billion dollar service contract rather than a direct purchase. The total value of the xEVAS contract, which covers development and operations for both lunar and station suits, has a ceiling of several billion dollars over prolonged periods.
What happens if an astronaut needs to use the bathroom in the suit?
Astronauts wear a Maximum Absorbency Garment (MAG), which is essentially a high-tech adult diaper, under the suit. This garment manages waste during long spacewalks that can last up to eight hours, as there are no plumbing facilities inside the suit.
How long can an astronaut stay in the Artemis suit?
The Portable Life Support System is designed to support spacewalks lasting approximately eight hours. This duration includes the time required for the astronaut to exit the airlock, perform mission tasks, and return safely, with reserve oxygen for emergencies.
Why is walking on the Moon difficult?
Walking on the Moon is difficult due to the low gravity (one-sixth of Earth’s) and the pressurized nature of the spacesuit. The internal pressure makes the suit stiff, resisting every movement, while the low gravity changes the traction and balance required to move forward without bounding uncontrollably.
What materials are used to make the spacesuit?
The suit is constructed from a variety of advanced materials including Orthofabric (a blend of Teflon, Kevlar, and Nomex) for the outer shell, aluminized Mylar for insulation, and urethane-coated nylon for the pressure bladder. Titanium and composites are used for the hard upper torso and bearing assemblies.
Can the Artemis suit be used on Mars?
The AxEMU is a lunar suit, but its technologies serve as a baseline for future Mars suits. A Mars suit will need to be lighter to accommodate the higher gravity on Mars and modified to handle the specific chemical composition of the Martian atmosphere and dust.
What is the “xEVAS” contract?
The xEVAS (Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services) contract is the mechanism NASA uses to partner with commercial companies like Axiom Space and others. It shifts the responsibility of suit ownership and maintenance to the companies, with the agency paying for the service of using the suits.
How do astronauts drink water inside the suit?
Inside the suit, a drink bag containing water is velcroed to the front of the chest assembly. A straw extends up into the helmet near the astronaut’s mouth, allowing them to bite down on a valve and drink hands-free during the spacewalk.
What lights are on the Artemis helmet?
The helmet is equipped with high-intensity LED headlights mounted on the sides of the visor assembly. These lights are essential for operations at the lunar South Pole, where the sun remains low on the horizon and deep shadows can hide dangerous terrain.
Is the Artemis suit bulletproof?
While not designed as body armor, the outer layers of the suit are made of Kevlar and other robust materials to stop micrometeoroids, which are tiny particles traveling at bullet-like speeds. This construction offers significant ballistic protection, though its primary purpose is environmental shielding rather than combat defense.
