NASA has finally selected the company that will build the moon spacesuits for Artemis 3 mission. Axiom Space, a company based in Houston, was chosen to make the moonwalking system for the said mission, as per Space.com.
Artemis 3 is a mission with the goal of landing astronauts on the lunar surface 50 years after the Apollo flight successfully brought the first humans to the moon in 1972. If it all goes according to plan, the mission will be 2025 or 2026.
Axiom Space Will Build the Next Generation of Artemis Spacesuits
Axiom Space bested another company in the "competitive spacesuits contract," according to NASA.
In addition, NASA said that the company will be responsible for developing a "next generation Artemis spacesuit and supporting systems."
Moreover, they will also be tasked to demonstrate the use of the moonwalking spacesuit during the moon during Artemis III mission.
"NASA is proud to partner with commercial industry on this historic mission that will kickstart the United States building a lasting presence on the surface of the moon," said Lara Kearney, manager of NASA's Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility program.
Kearney highlighted the importance of the mission. According to her, the data that will be collected by the Artemis 3 mission will contribute greatly to future missions to Mars.
She also emphasized the special role of spacesuits in this mission, saying that "spacesuits enable us to literally take that next step."
NASA based the technical safety requirements for the upcoming spacesuits on its more than 50 years of expertise in using this special space clothing.
Being chosen as the official creator of the moonwalking spacesuits, Axiom Space will be in charge of the design, development, qualification, certification, and production of the spacesuits.
Likewise, the company will be behind the support equipment. The spacesuits and the support equipment should meet the primary requirements for Artemis 3, as per NASA.
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Axiom Space Will Test the Spacesuits in a Spacelike Environment
Axiom Space and a team led by Collins Aerospace were selected by NASA to build the next generation of spacesuits for the Artemis 3 mission.
The two companies competed for a total of up to $3.5 billion spacesuits contract through 2034, as per Space.com.
NASA reviewed the proposals from Axiom Space and a team led by Collins Aerospace. The agency eventually selected Axiom Space for the task order.
The task order has a base value of $228.5 million. According to NASA, for recurring spacesuit services that will support the upcoming Artemis mission, spacesuit makers will have to compete for the future task order.
NASA said that the agency would be in charge of the astronaut training, mission planning, and approval of the service systems.
Prior to the launch of Artemis 3 mission, Axiom Space will have to conduct tests in a spacelike environment to check if the spacesuits are ready for the mission.
The Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program (EHP) manage the spacesuits contract.
As of writing, the Artemis mission is not yet launched. NASA is working on the next attempt to launch Artemis 1.
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