Mar 16, 2023 - Science

NASA reveals spacesuit for new Moon mission that better fits women

An image of the new NASA spacesuit  to be worn astronauts on the planned Artemis 3 moon mission later this decade.

A prototype of the NASA spacesuit to be worn by astronauts on the Artemis III Moon mission later this decade. Photo: Axiom Space via NASA

NASA and Axiom Space unveiled Wednesday the first prototype of a "next generation" spacesuit for humanity's return to the moon in 2025 during an event in Houston, Texas.

Why it matters: The suits will be key to NASA's plans to send people to the Moon and the space agency has pledged to send the first woman and first person of color to the Moon on the Artemis missions.

A screenshot of a NASA Artemes tweet stating: ". @Axiom_Space  revealed a spacesuit prototype that our  @NASA_Astronauts  plan to wear near the Moon’s South Pole on  @NASA ’s #Artemis III mission.   The spacesuit will give lunar explorers extra mobility, protection, & the latest technology."
Photo: NASA Artemis/Twitter

What they're saying: "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 statement.

  • Michael Suffredini, president and CEO of Axiom Space, said in a statement that the Texas-based company's spacesuit for the Artemis III mission "will be ready to meet the complex challenges of the lunar south pole and help grow our understanding of the Moon in order to enable a long-term presence there."

The intrigue: The prototype suit unveiled at the Johnson Space Center was black with blue and orange detailing, but since a spacesuit worn on the Moon "must be white to reflect heat and protect astronauts from extreme high temperatures, a cover layer is currently being used for display purposes only to conceal the suit's proprietary design," per an Axiom statement.

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