NASA Unveils New Spacesuit for Artemis Lunar Exploration Program

On March 15 (local time), the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) unveiled a new Artemis spacesuit manufactured by the private aerospace company Axiom Space (Axiom). The name of this spacesuit is “AxEMU (Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit)”. On April 3, NASA announced that four astronauts will carry out the manned exploration mission of the “Artemis” lunar exploration program. They will don the new AxEMU spacesuit, replaced for the first time in 40 years, and carry out the Artemis mission in the third phase of the lunar landing, scheduled for 2025.

A system for walking on the moon was provided

“By partnering with Axiom, we have developed a next-generation spacesuit that will provide the moonwalk system needed for the Artemis program,” NASA said. This will allow for more scientific exploration than ever before. In a demonstration of the new spacesuit, an AxEMU engineer demonstrated more fluid movements, such as walking in a spacesuit and performing squats and lunges. The AxEMU is made in various sizes to be worn by black and female astronauts selected as Artemis astronauts.

At the demo, Russell Ralston, deputy director of Axiom’s EVA (Extravehicular Activity) Program, said, “This spacesuit is made in sizes such as large, medium, and small to fit various body types.” body type.”

Artemis spacesuit gauntlet (left). The Artemis “AxEMU” spacesuit is covered with a black cloth for technical security. [액시엄 스페이스 제공]

A spacesuit is a set of advanced technologies that protects the astronaut’s body and aids in various space explorations that are extreme enough to be called mini spacecraft. The reason NASA, which has developed its own spacesuits, is collaborating with Axiom is to provide a moonwalk system including the spacesuit. The design of the Artemis spacesuit revealed this time is distinctly different from the spacesuit used on previous Apollo missions or for spacewalks on the International Space Station (ISS). That’s because the Axiom’s design comprehensively reflects the concept of spacesuits, which NASA has been researching, called an “external probe.”

Developed in collaboration with private companies

NASA initially invested over 260 billion won over 14 years to make its own spacesuit, but gave up and decided to go with a third-party company. Axiom, thus selected, is a private aerospace company active in the space industry by conducting private astronaut missions to the International Space Station and promoting the construction of its own commercial space station. Michael Suffredini, CEO of Axiom, has worked at NASA for over 30 years, having served as Program Manager for the ISS. Last year, NASA said in a press release that it paid Axiom 270 billion won and signed its first contract to develop a spacesuit. The entire development project is estimated at US$3.5 billion (about 4.6 trillion won).

A Project Mercury spacesuit from the late 1950s (left). An Apollo 17 astronaut wearing a dust-covered spacesuit collects soil samples from the Moon. [NASA 제공]

In the early days of space exploration, spacesuits were much simpler. The spacesuits of America’s first manned space project, Project Mercury, which ran from 1958 to 1963, were designed to be used only inside spacecraft. From 1964 to 1966, a spacesuit suitable for extravehicular spacewalks was designed during “Project Gemini”, an American manned space project. This spacesuit had a frame in which an oxygen supply hose was connected to the spacecraft like a deep-sea diver. Since then, as space missions have become more complex, the suits have been modified and redesigned to better suit the new environment.

The spacesuit that will be used in the Artemis program is not unlike a small spacecraft shaped like a human body that protects astronauts from external dangers. When walking in space, astronauts encounter radiation, dust, debris and extreme temperatures. The spacesuit must apply adequate pressure to the astronaut’s body and provide the astronaut with water to drink and oxygen to breathe. The Moon alone shows extreme temperature changes, with temperatures rising to over 100°C during the day and cooling below -170°C at night. The spacesuit released this time is a prototype and includes the developer’s logo, orange and blue, and covered with a black hood to hide the proprietary technology. Spacesuits worn by real astronauts are expected to be white to reflect heat and protect the body from extremely high temperatures.

Two particularly important parts of a spacesuit are the pressurized suit and the life support system. The pressure suit is one of the elements that protects the body and allows it to move, and is made up of a cooling suit that regulates body temperature, an upper body part, a lower body part and a helmet. In addition, the new spacesuit is designed to provide more flexibility and greater protection to withstand harsh environments and special scientific exploration tools. A high-definition video camera and light bar are attached to the transparent helmet, giving astronauts a better view as they explore the moon’s permanent shadow region. The back of the suit has two hinge holes. It’s a system that astronauts use when entering a spacesuit through a hatch. It also has an attached backpack that provides a portable life support system. Gloves and boots are reinforced with extra insulation to keep astronauts’ hands and feet warm when working in the Moon’s permanent shadow, where they never see sunlight.

Exploration of the lunar south pole is possible

Spacesuit boots or gloves are important for lunar dust handling technology. The moon’s surface is covered in a fine dust called regolith. This dust is so thick and sharp that it often wears down and damages clothing and equipment. Inhalation of dust is known to cause bleeding or serious bodily injury. Apollo 17, the last moon landing, suffered from problems such as worn spacesuits, damaged machinery and obstructed vision helmets. So the new spacesuit focused on dustproof function. The technology was applied to prevent dust from sticking to the spacesuit and to deal with dust when astronauts entered the spacecraft.

“We have designed a state-of-the-art spacesuit that will help astronauts operate safely and efficiently on the Moon,” said Serfredini’s CEO.

_{* If you search and follow “Magazine Donga” and “Two Venters” on YouTube and Portal respectively, you can find various investment information such as videos and articles.}

Donga Weekly #1384 (pp. 16~18)