While NASA decides whether or not to launch Artemis — and all indications are that there will be a new attempt in the next launch windows on September 23 or 27 — the North American Space Agency continues to prepare the next phases of lunar exploration. One of them is related to the spacesuits that astronauts will wear when they return to the lunar surface. Although it was an internal NASA project, it was eventually taken over by one of the major aerospace companies: axiom space.
This was a problem that NASA wanted to solve internally. Although they have a significant amount of spacesuit reserves, they are intended for use by the International Space Station. And while in extreme cases they could be used for moonwalks and Artemis missions, the reality is that we have to create a whole new generation of suits. More modern, and also more resistant to lunar dust, which easily sticks to any surface. In addition, they can isolate much more from the Moon’s large thermal contrasts. They will also have to resist the pull of the moon; a problem that has not touched the International Space Station until now. Same way, must be designed in such a way that women can wear them — which will be part of the first manned mission — and be more flexible, they say, to aid lunar science exploration.
Not much information has come out about the final look of the Artemis mission suits, and all indications are that there won’t be many details about what the lunar astronauts will look like until 2024.
Axiom remains with NASA’s Artemis project.
Already in 2019, NASA designed the spacesuits that the next lunar astronauts will wear for their walks on the moon. But that was last year when they announced that while they are still in development, they will not prepare and test them for the first ride. Scheduled, if all goes well with the imminent launch of the first uncrewed Artemis mission, for 2025.
And the fact is that the role of the Space of Axioms in this case was almost limiting. Along with Collins Aerospace, it was one of the companies bidding for the next lunar suit. Both already had experience making suits and private space flights. In fact, the goal goes much further. Although the target of the Artemis mission is the Moon, the idea is that this is the testing ground for the mission everyone has in mind: Mars.
Also to create a new generation – similar to the generation of Elon Musk with his Tesla missions – more modern than current suits. The electric car and space explorer mogul has added a new component to his suits. Besides the fact that they were useful and safe – which was of course important – Musk always asked himself the question: why are they so ugly? The reality is that in previous missions, aesthetics were never a priority, but with the advent of commercial fights, good photography has always been a plus. For this reason, the first beautiful, comfortable and safe spacesuit was born.
In the case of the Artemis mission, the project was eventually carried out by a Houston-based company. The budget of which is 228.8 million dollars. Actually, she was the last one to check her costumes — or at least a version that could inspire the next moonsuit. In April of this year, under an agreement with SpaceX, Axiom Space delivered the first private crew to the International Space Station.
In addition, the agreement with NASA for Axiom Space with Artemis brings up an important issue. The ultimate confirmation that space exploration is no longer solely in the hands of major international agencies. It is the private elements led by SpaceX that provide the key to the next steps. space conquest.
In the specific case of Axiom, this happens by first approaching her future and the promised private space station. The one that is already being prepared with the help of the designer Thales Alenia to launch the first modules in 2024.
Source: Hiper Textual
