AxEMU Space Suits for Artemis: Axiom Space Responds to the Office of Inspector General and Criticism
The success of the Artemis II mission is just another step towards the return of humans to the surface of the Moon. The USA aims to beat China in this "second space race" and to do so, they will have to face several critical issues and obstacles with timelines that are far from certain. As we know, in 2027, the Artemis III mission will take place, where one or two lunar landers developed by SpaceX and Blue Origin, namely Starship HLS and Blue Moon MK2, will be tested in low Earth orbit (LEO).
Another critical issue is related to the AxEMU space suits developed by Axiom Space. In mid-February, it was announced that these new suits had passed the technical review and that the construction of the first unit for tests could take place either during Artemis III or aboard the International Space Station.
Axiom Space and the AxEMU Space Suits: A New Unknown for Artemis
In recent hours, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) released a new report highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of Axiom Space's development of the AxEMU. Without these space suits, a moon landing will not be possible, leading to delays in the Artemis program. Due to budget constraints and the complexity of hardware construction, the U.S. company is the only one that accepted NASA's request to manufacture the new space suits.
As noted by the OIG, the AxEMU space suits are partially based on the design of xEMU developed by NASA after years of research and testing, unlike Collins Aerospace, which was supposed to develop the space suits for extravehicular activities aboard the ISS but announced in 2024 that it no longer wished to continue with the hardware development (which was based on a new design).
The OIG highlighted that Axiom Space is about 18 months behind the original plans, with a first unit that may be ready for space testing in late 2027. According to the Office of Inspector General, if the delays follow the historical average of U.S. space agency programs, actual availability could slip to 2031 (the moon landing is currently expected with Artemis IV in early 2028 while China intends to land a crew on the Moon by 2030).
The product developed by Axiom Space remains interesting for several aspects and represents a significant improvement over previous space suits for EVAs. Notably, it features greater mobility, advanced materials, improved joints, updated communication capabilities, the ability to send high-resolution live video, better protection against lunar regolith, and a better fit for different body types.
Axiom Space has also chosen to collaborate with companies like Oakley (for helmet and visor), while Prada has contributed to selecting and developing materials for other parts of the space suit. The U.S. company has decided to internally produce critical components such as batteries and valves to avoid risks from external suppliers. To ensure additional safety, NASA has increased testing before proceeding with the production of the final model.
In response to the OIG's report, Jared Isaacman (NASA Administrator) stated that he appreciates the work of the Office of Inspector General and noted that NASA is trying to improve on the critical points by providing technical and engineering support. Isaacman added that "I am confident that when NASA is ready to land on the Moon in 2028, our astronauts will be wearing Axiom suits." The administrator also emphasized that a gradual approach has been chosen, moving from a contract-based model to a "As a Service" model that will involve not the direct purchase of hardware but a "rental based on specific needs" which is deemed more sustainable in the long run.
Axiom Space also made its voice heard. Jonathan Cirtain (CEO and President of the company) stated, "Axiom Space is providing the most advanced space suit ever made for human lunar exploration and we are doing it with the urgency required by the Artemis program. To date, we have logged over 950 hours of pressurized crew testing, completed the first thermal vacuum test, and delivered over 1,300 components for design review, which we are on track to complete this year. We remain confident in our path towards demonstration in 2027 and toward supporting America’s return to the lunar surface in 2028. We appreciate the continued focus of the OIG in strengthening NASA's long-term approach to human space exploration, and we share its commitment to mission success. It is a privilege to rebuild the capability to create a fully American space suit, a capacity that the nation has not updated for Low Earth Orbit or lunar exploration for decades, and we are honored to do this work in partnership with NASA as America prepares to return to the Moon."