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NASA and Houston-based aerospace firm Axiom Space have unveiled the first prototype of the spacesuit Artemis III astronauts may wear on the Moon, when they explore the lunar South Pole. Axiom Space hosted an event at the Houston Space Center on Wednesday where it revealed the prototype.
Axiom Space’s role is to deliver the moonwalking system, including the spacesuit, for Artemis III.
The spacesuit is called the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit, or AxEMU. It builds on NASA’s spacesuit prototype developments and incorporates the latest technology, enhanced mobility, and added protection from hazards on the Moon.
NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said in a statement that the space agency’s partnership with Axiom is critical to landing astronauts on the Moon and continuing American leadership in space. Axiom’s next generation spacesuits, which builds on NASA’s years of research and expertise, will not only enable the first woman to walk on the Moon, but will also open opportunities for more people to explore and conduct science on the Moon than ever before, Nelson said. .
Artemis III is the third leg of NASA’s Artemis Program. It will land the first woman and the first person of color on the Moon. The aim of the Artemis Program is to advance long-term lunar exploration and scientific discovery.
Artemis III will land humans on the surface of the Moon for the first time in over 50 years.
NASA’s massive Space Launch System (SLS) rocket and Orion Space Capsule will carry astronauts into lunar orbit. From there, SpaceX’s Human Lander System (HLS) will ferry the astronauts to the Moon’s icy south pole. In Artemis III, the Orion capsule will connect to SpaceX’s HLS.
Axiom Space used the experience, expertise and data behind NASA’s Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU), which has advanced spacesuit designs for multiple destinations, as a basis for the design and development of the AxEMU.
Axiom Space has agreed to meet NASA’s technical and safety standards to build spacesuits. AxEMU is a next generation spacesuit with the range of motion and flexibility needed to explore more of the lunar landscape. Also, a broad range of crew members can fit inside the spacesuit.
AxEMU can accommodate at least 90 percent of the male and female population of the United States.
The responsibilities of Axiom Space include the design, development, qualification, certification, and production of flight training spacesuits and support equipment, including tools, to enable the Artemis III mission.
Prior to Artemis III, Axiom Space will test the spacesuit in a spacelike environment.
More about Artemis Program
The Artemis Project is the first human mission since 1972. Through the Artemis Program, NASA aims to carry the first woman, and the first person of color to the Moon, by 2025.
The first spaceflight that landed humans on the lunar surface was Apollo 11 on July 20, 1969, and the last one was Apollo 17 on December 11, 1972.
Artemis, the Goddess of the Moon in Greek Mythology after whom this project has been named, was the twin sister of Apollo.
The objective behind the Artemis Mission is that it will enable NASA to demonstrate new technologies on the Moon, which will pave the way for future exploration of Mars.
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