THE ALL NEW MODERN SPACESUITS FOR NASA'S ARTEMIS III MISSION

NASA has selected Axiom Space to design and build the next-generation spacesuits for the Artemis III mission, which will return humans to the lunar surface for the first time since Apollo 17. The Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) represents the most advanced EVA suit ever developed, incorporating enhanced mobility, extreme thermal protection, and a design capable of accommodating at least 90 percent of the US adult population.

What Is the AxEMU Spacesuit?

The Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit builds on decades of NASA spacesuit engineering, including the xEMU prototype programme, and advances it significantly for the demands of the lunar south pole. The Artemis III mission will land astronauts near the lunar south pole, a region characterised by permanently shadowed craters where temperatures drop below -230 degrees Celsius (-382 degrees Fahrenheit). The AxEMU is rated to protect astronauts in those shadowed regions for a minimum of two hours during a standard eight-hour moonwalk.

Axiom Space's Role and the Prada Partnership

Axiom Space is responsible for the full development pipeline: design, development, qualification, certification, and production of both flight and training spacesuits, as well as all support equipment and EVA tools. NASA retains authority over astronaut training, mission planning, and service system approval. One significant addition to the AxEMU story is the design partnership with Prada. The Italian luxury house contributed its expertise in advanced materials research, precision stitching techniques, protective layering, and thermal insulation to the suit's outer layer, a collaboration that bridges aerospace engineering and high-performance material science in an unprecedented way.

Key Capabilities and Testing

The AxEMU offers full range of motion for tasks like rock sample collection, equipment deployment, and navigation across uneven terrain. It accommodates the broadest population range of any NASA suit in history. More than 850 hours of pressurised testing with a person inside the suit have been completed ahead of certification. The suit's onboard life support system enables eight-hour EVA operations. NASA's full announcement of the programme is detailed at NASA.gov. Scientific American's coverage provides an excellent overview of the mobility engineering behind the AxEMU.

What Comes After Artemis III?

Following Artemis III, NASA will open competition for future Artemis mission spacesuit services under the Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services (xEVAS) contract. This contract framework will also cover spacewalking suits for the International Space Station, consolidating NASA's EVA requirements under a single performance-based procurement model. Artemis III is currently targeting launch in mid-2027.

Photo: NASA.gov

TheArsenale carries a curated selection of space-related collectibles and art, including Benedict Redgrove's photography of the EMU Spacesuit and the Space Shuttle Atlantis, as well as the NASA T58 Jet Engine Conference Table. Explore the full tech collection at TheArsenale for more engineering-driven design objects.