NASA uses Axiom Space to make Artemis moonwalker spacesuits

NASA has chosen Axiom Space to build a lunar walker system for the Artemis III mission, which will land Americans on the moon’s surface for the first time in over 50 years.

This award – the first under a spacesuit competition contract – is for a contract to develop a next-generation Artemis spacesuit and support systems and demonstrate their use on the lunar surface during Artemis III.

With this award, NASA has set another cornerstone for returning astronauts to the Moon under Artemis to support further scientific breakthroughs that will benefit humanity on Earth. As part of its planned manned lunar missions, NASA will land the first woman and first black person on the moon.

After reviewing bids from its two potential space suit suppliers, NASA selected Axiom Space for the contract, which has a base value of $228.5 million. A future contract will be tendered for recurring spacesuit services in support of subsequent Artemis missions.

Commenting on the agreement, Lara Kearney, manager of NASA’s Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility program, said, “NASA is proud to partner with commercial industry on this historic mission that will inspire the United States to establish an enduring presence build on the lunar surface. What we learn about Artemis III and future missions on and around the moon will pave the way for missions to Mars. Space suits allow us to literally take the next step.”

Based on more than 50 years of space suit experience, NASA has defined the technical and safety requirements for the next generation of space suits. Axiom Space will be responsible for the design, development, qualification, certification, and production of its spacesuits and support equipment that meet these critical regulatory requirements for Artemis III.

NASA experts retain authority for astronaut training, mission planning, and service systems approval. Axiom Space is required to test the suits in a space-like environment prior to Artemis III.

Under the indefinite supply, indefinite quantity Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services contract, eligible industry partners will compete for contract orders that will provide a full suite of capabilities for NASA’s space and lunar walks during the performance period through 2034.

Future tasks under the contract include recurring moon landings, space suit development for use in low Earth orbit outside the International Space Station, and special studies.

The spacesuit contract, which will advance spacewalking capabilities in low Earth orbit and on the moon, will be administered by the extravehicular activity and human surface mobility (EHP) program at the agency’s Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Building on NASA’s Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit spacesuit design, Axiom’s xEVAS spacesuits will provide greater flexibility and specialized tools to meet exploration needs and expand scientific capabilities in space.

Axiom partners on the xEVAS spacesuits include KBR, Air-Lock, Arrow Science and Technology, David Clark Company, Paragon Space Development Corporation, Sophic Synergistics and APT Research.