![\"Lara](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/going-to-the-moon-lara-kearney.jpg\")
<\/p>\nThe next-generation spacesuit for NASA\u2019s Artemis III mission continues to advance by passing a contractor-led technical review, as the agency prepares to send humans to the Moon\u2019s South Pole for the first time.\u00a0Testing is also underway for the new suits, built by Axiom Space, with\u00a0NASA astronauts and spacesuit engineers recently simulating surface operations and tasks underwater to demonstrate safety and mobility.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The AxEMU (Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit), is designed to give astronauts increased flexibility and improved mobility for moonwalking, including bending down to collect geology samples and perform a variety of scientific tasks.\u00a0The suit features increased sizing options and adjustability to fit a wider range of crew members. It incorporates advanced life-support systems and enhanced protection to withstand the harsh lunar environment.\u00a0Axiom Space is also developing specialized tools and equipment for work on the lunar surface, allowing astronauts to more easily gather geology samples.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Now that Axiom Space has completed their technical review of the AxEMU, NASA\u00a0will evaluate\u00a0whether\u00a0the spacesuit\u00a0is ready for the agency\u2019s Artemis III mission that will return American astronauts to the Moon. A NASA-led critical design sync review, which is an agency-required technical evaluation, will confirm that the design\u2019s hardware and systems are on track for final testing and delivery. In parallel, Axiom Space has begun receiving parts for the first flight unit, which will be assembled later this spring.<\/p>\n
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Lara Kearney<\/p>\n
Manager, Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program<\/p>\n
\u201cThe completion of their internal review brings Axiom Space one step closer to delivering a next-generation lunar spacesuit,\u201d said Lara Kearney, manager of the Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program at Johnson Space Center in Houston. \u201cThis achievement reflects our shared commitment to deliver a safe, capable lunar spacesuit that will enable astronauts to explore the Moon\u2019s surface.\u201d<\/p>\n
NASA and Axiom Space\u00a0have conducted over 850 hours of pressurized testing with a person inside the AxEMU. Leading up to the review, teams conducted underwater and simulated lunar gravity tests of the AxEMU in facilities at NASA Johnson that demonstrate how the spacesuit\u2019s capabilities will offer increased mobility as astronauts explore the Moon\u2019s surface and prepare for missions to Mars. These tests allow astronauts and engineers to become familiar with the spacesuit and practice moving and performing tasks in a simulated lunar gravity environment, which is one-sixth the gravity we experience on Earth. Suit users have provided\u00a0feedback on design, functionality, and safety.<\/p>\n
Agency and Axiom Space teams recently finished the first series of test runs in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory at NASA Johnson. While in the 40-foot-deep pool, they weighted the AxEMU to match lunar gravity and assessed functionality and ease of movement.<\/p>\n
Now, teams are in the middle of evaluating how well test subjects can perform tasks while wearing the spacesuit in different suit pressure levels in NASA Johnson\u2019s Active Response Gravity Offload System facility. The agency uses an overhead lift system that connects to a spacesuit to create a reduced-gravity environment allowing anyone in the suit to walk around in simulated lunar gravity. Higher suit pressures reduce time to acclimate to the suits, enabling astronauts to spend more time walking on the lunar surface during Artemis missions.<\/p>\n
Astronaut safety\u00a0is\u00a0NASA\u2019s top\u00a0priority\u00a0for the Artemis\u00a0campaign.\u00a0Using more than 50 years of spacesuit\u00a0expertise, NASA defined the technical and safety standards\u00a0and requirements\u00a0by which the next generation of\u00a0lunar\u00a0spacesuits are being built. At\u00a0key milestones in the\u00a0spacesuit\u2019s development,\u00a0NASA\u00a0has and\u00a0will\u00a0continue to\u00a0verify the\u00a0AxEMU\u00a0and its system deliverables\u00a0to ensure the risk to the Artemis crew members is understood and\u00a0minimized.\u00a0<\/p>\n
NASA\u2019s\u00a0spacesuits contract is managed by the Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility\u00a0Program which\u00a0serves as the agency\u2019s program to develop next-generation spacesuits, human-rated rovers, and\u00a0spacewalking\u00a0tools, along with all required spacewalking support systems that will enable astronauts to survive and work outside the confines of a spacecraft to explore on and around the Moon.\u202f<\/p>\n
As part of a Golden Age of innovation and exploration, NASA\u2019s Artemis astronauts will use these new spacesuits, along with advanced landers and rovers, to explore more of the Moon for scientific discovery, economic benefits, and to prepare for future human exploration of Mars.<\/p>\n
Learn more about NASA\u2019s Artemis campaign at:<\/p>\n