We now know what NASA’s subsequent moonwalkers will likely be sporting.
NASA introduced Wednesday (Sept. 7) that it has chosen Houston firm Axiom Space to construct the moon spacesuits for Artemis 3, a mission that goals to land astronauts close to the lunar south pole in 2025 or 2026.
Artemis 3 will obtain the primary crewed touchdown on the moon for the reason that remaining Apollo flight in 1972, if all goes in line with plan. And NASA intends to maintain going again with its Artemis program, establishing a crewed outpost on Earth’s nearest neighbor by the top of the 2020s.
Associated: The evolution of the spacesuit in pictures
“NASA is proud to associate with industrial trade on this historic mission that may kickstart the USA constructing a long-lasting presence on the floor of the moon,” Lara Kearney, supervisor of NASA’s Extravehicular Exercise and Human Floor Mobility program, said in a statement (opens in new tab).
“What we be taught on Artemis 3 and future missions on and across the moon will pave the best way for missions to Mars,” Kearney added. “Spacesuits allow us to actually take that subsequent step.”
In June of this yr, NASA announced that it had chosen Axiom and a crew led by Collins Aerospace to develop and construct spacesuits for future missions to the moon and the International Space Station. The 2 non-public groups earned the suitable to compete for a total of as much as $3.5 billion by 2034.
That cash will likely be doled out by way of a collection of “job orders.” The newly introduced Artemis 3 award is one such order, and it has a base worth of $228.5 million.
“Utilizing greater than 50 years of spacesuit experience, NASA outlined the technical and security necessities for the subsequent technology of spacesuits. Axiom Area will likely be liable for the design, growth, qualification, certification and manufacturing of its spacesuits and help gear that may meet these key company necessities for Artemis 3,” company officers stated in Wednesday’s assertion.
“NASA specialists will keep the authority for astronaut coaching, mission planning and approval of the service techniques,” they added. “Axiom Area will likely be required to check the fits in a spacelike setting earlier than Artemis 3.”
A future job order will cowl subsequent crewed Artemis missions, NASA officers stated.
NASA has not but launched any Artemis missions, however that ought to change quickly. The company is gearing up for the subsequent launch try of Artemis 1, which can ship the company’s Orion capsule on an uncrewed journey to lunar orbit and again.
NASA tried to launch Artemis 1 on Aug. 29 and Sept. 3 however scrubbed both attempts as a consequence of technical points. The company has not but introduced a goal date for the subsequent attempt.
Mike Wall is the creator of “Out There (opens in new tab)” (Grand Central Publishing, 2018; illustrated by Karl Tate), a ebook concerning the seek for alien life. Comply with him on Twitter @michaeldwall (opens in new tab). Comply with us on Twitter @Spacedotcom (opens in new tab) or on Facebook (opens in new tab).