Nasa’s Next-Generation Spacesuit To Enhance Astronaut Safety And Mobility On The Moon

March 17, 2023
1 min read

NASA and Axiom Space recently presented a prototype of the next-generation spacesuit that astronauts will use for the next walk on the Moon. The Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit has better flexibility and thermal safety than those worn by the Apollo astronauts, who stepped foot on the lunar surface for the first time more than 50 years ago. The suit has numerous protective layers, a backpack with life support systems, lighting systems, and a HD video camera mounted on top of the bubble-shaped head gear. NASA’s space agency’s Artemis program aims to return humans to the Moon in late 2025 since the historic Apollo missions ended in 1972, which will initiate a step towards an eventual voyage to Mars.

The newest moonwear was presented at the Johnson Space Center in Houston during an event hosted by Axiom Space, a Texas-based company. The Artemis I mission, the inaugural presentation of NASA’s powerful next-generation rocket and its latest Orion spacecraft on an uncrewed test flight around the Moon and back, was successfully completed in December. The completed version of the suit will be in the conventional white used to reflect heat from the sun and protect astronauts from the temperatures of the harsh lunar environment.

The suit boasts a backpack called a “portable life support system,” which is designed for up to eight hours of usage. It features many layers, including an innermost layer called a bladder layer that keeps air inside the space suit like a balloon and a restraint layer that maintains its figure. An insulation layer made of various fabrics protects the cosmonauts against the huge temperature fluctuations on the moon, while the exterior layer is designed to be resistant to dust and potential wear & tear from sharp rocks. The latest suit has “more functionality, more performance, and more capability” compared to the bulky version worn by Apollo astronauts.

The Artemis III mission is planned to take place in late 2025, just about 12 months after Artemis II. NASA and the Canadian Space Agency are set to announce on April 3 the four astronauts selected to fly on Artemis II. That flight, if successful, will set the process for a planned Artemis III astronaut expedition to the lunar surface — the first ever to the moon’s south pole — later on in the same decade. NASA chief Bill Nelson described the new spacesuits as “will open opportunities for more people to explore and conduct science on the moon than ever before”.

Rahul Somvanshi

Rahul, possessing a profound background in the creative industry, illuminates the unspoken, often confronting revelations and unpleasant subjects, navigating their complexities with a discerning eye. He perpetually questions, explores, and unveils the multifaceted impacts of change and transformation in our global landscape. As an experienced filmmaker and writer, he intricately delves into the realms of sustainability, design, flora and fauna, health, science and technology, mobility, and space, ceaselessly investigating the practical applications and transformative potentials of burgeoning developments.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Latest from Blog

American Public Schools Face Higher Air Pollution

Different races and ethnicities now have access to different air quality, particularly in areas near highways and industrial areas. The first national trends in exposure to nitrogen dioxide and fine particle pollution
Geothermal Plant

Philippines To Get New Geothermal Plants For Clean Energy

Energy Development Corporation President and Chief Operation Officer Richard Tantoco were recognized as one of this year’s ESG, Diversity, and Climate Trailblazers in Governance, Risk, Compliance (GRC) company Diligent’s 2022 Modern Governance

Hard & Durable Material Made From Mushrooms: MyLea

Mycotech is a startup based in Indonesia. They create sustainable products, bio-fibers and majorly specialize in MyLea, a form of sustainable leather. BioBo – bricks made from mushroom and mycelium are sustainable
Provocative Art Made From Daily Trash

Provocative Art Made From Daily Trash

Provocative Art Made From Daily Trash Pablo Llana is a contemporary artist, based out of Tijuana, Mexico. He had been publishing artworks since 2010. His work sculptures are upcycled from food-products waste

Don't Miss