The new suits are tighter and more flexible than those used by astronauts on the Apollo mission more than 50 years ago and are better suited to women.
On March 15, NASA, together with representatives of Axiom Space, presented a prototype of a new spacesuit, in which astronauts will land on the moon as part of the Artemis 3 mission in 2025. These suits are more flexible and form-fitting than those used by astronauts in the late 60s and early 70s of the last century while traveling on the surface of the moon. Also, the new suits are better suited for women and these spacesuits will never return to Earth after the flight, writes The Guardian.
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According to NASA’s plan, at the end of 2025, as part of the Artemis 3 mission, four astronauts will fly to the moon and two of them will be able to land on its surface. It is planned that as part of this mission, for the first time, a woman and an astronaut of a non-Caucasian race will fly. For example, all 12 astronauts who landed on the moon from 1969 to 1972 as part of the Apollo program were white males.
On March 15, NASA, together with representatives of Axiom Space, presented a prototype of a new spacesuit, in which, as part of the Artemis 3 mission, astronauts will land on the moon in 2025.
Photo: The Guardian
The new spacesuit that Axiom Space has developed for NASA is called AxEMU and it is not as bulky and uncomfortable as those used during the first landings on the Earth’s satellite. The new suit is significantly upgraded, more form-fitting, more comfortable and more flexible, which will allow astronauts to feel more comfortable in it. And most importantly, the new suits are suitable for women to wear. Also, the new suits use an improved life support system, which will increase the safety of astronauts on the moon.
The new suit that Axiom Space has developed for NASA is called AxEMU and it is not as bulky and uncomfortable as those used during the first landings on the Earth’s satellite.
Photo: Axiom Space
The suits shown are black with orange and blue accents, but Axiom Space said that, unlike the prototype, the actual space suits will be white to reflect bright sunlight. This way astronauts will be better protected from the heat of solar radiation at the South Pole of the Moon, where the first human landing in 50 years will take place.
The space suits shown are black with orange and blue accents, but Axiom Space said that unlike the prototype, the real space suits will be white, which will reflect bright sunlight.
Photo: space.com
So far, it is not known exactly who will fly to the Moon as part of the Artemis 3 mission, and the crew of the Orion spacecraft, which will go to the Moon in the fall of 2024 as part of the Artemis 2 mission, will become known only in April this year. This flight will be a kind of training before landing astronauts on the moon in 2 years.
Also at the presentation of the spacesuits, it became known that the space suits of the first astronauts on the Moon in the 21st century will remain forever in satellite orbit and will never return to Earth. Astronauts in orbit around the moon will transfer from the Orion spacecraft to the lander, spend some time there, and then return to orbit, according to Axiom Space officials. Moreover, only two astronauts will go down, and the other two will be waiting for them in space.
Also at the presentation of spacesuits, it became known that the space suits of the first astronauts on the Moon in the 21st century will remain forever in satellite orbit and will never return to Earth.
Photo: space.com
Because the Orion spacecraft has its own weight limitations, astronauts will have to leave their spacesuits on the ship they took off from the Moon and change into lighter suits for the return to Earth. The fact is that the astronauts will take on board some amount of lunar soil and possibly additional equipment. All this will increase the carrying weight, which can be reduced by getting rid of space suits. But perhaps NASA engineers will come up with something and the first spacesuits in the 21st century that have visited the Moon will still return to Earth.
The fact is that the astronauts will take on board some amount of lunar soil and possibly additional equipment. All this will increase the carrying weight, which can be reduced by getting rid of spacesuits.
Photo: space.com
Focus has already written about the results of the Artemis 1 mission, which NASA released, from which it became known about some of the problems that happened with the Orion spacecraft and launch vehicle. We remind you that during this mission, an uncrewed spacecraft circled the Moon and returned to Earth. The astronauts will do the same during the Artemis 2 mission, which, as it became known, should begin in November next year.
Focus also wrote that scientists are actively looking for a way to protect astronauts’ spacesuits, and themselves, from the negative effects of lunar dust. The results of a recent experiment show that there is an effective way that can give an almost 100% guarantee of protection.
