Astronauts don new spacesuits being readied for living on the Moon
Former Nasa astronaut Chris Hadfield and European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Matthias Maurer recently took part in critical testing of Axiom Space's new lunar spacesuit, the AxEMU, in conjunction with Astrolab's FLEX lunar rover prototype.The evaluations, conducted at Axiom Space's Houston facilities, mark an important step in preparing astronauts for upcoming Moon missions under Artemis program.Hadfield, who has extensive spaceflight experience, performed detailed assessments of the crew stand and operational controls of the FLEX rover while wearing the pressurized AxEMU suit.advertisement
He provided valuable engineering feedback on the suit's fit and the rover's crew interface, highlighting the importance of seamless integration between spacesuit and vehicle.
Astronaut Chris Hadfield during the testing of the spacesuit. (Photo: Astrolab)
'Fun to be one of the astronauts testing Axiom Space's new lunar spacesuit and its fit with Astrolab's FLEX Moon rover,' Hadfield remarked.Matthias Maurer, the first European Space Agency astronaut to test the AxEMU, also gained firsthand experience with the suit's mobility and life-support systems.The AxEMU is designed to offer enhanced protection, increased mobility, and thermal regulation-featuring a white exterior to reflect heat and a life-sustaining backpack system-enabling astronauts to operate effectively on the Moon's harsh surface.advertisementThe AxEMU spacesuit has undergone extensive development and simulations, including underwater and reduced gravity tests at NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory and Johnson Space Center.It is nearing final design review and is slated for use in the Artemis III mission, which aims to return humans to the lunar surface.Thanks for visiting @astro_matthias! Matthias got a firsthand look at the spacesuit that will return humans to the Moon. Fun fact: Matthias is the first @ESA astronaut to test out our next-generation spacesuit, the #AxEMU. pic.twitter.com/jWMt2fJfJo— Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) May 12, 2025Astrolab's FLEX rover, scheduled to deploy at the lunar South Pole in late 2025, is a key platform for testing critical technologies such as hyper-deformable wheels and advanced batteries.The collaboration between Axiom Space and Astrolab ensures that the AxEMU suit and FLEX rover will integrate safely and effectively, supporting astronauts in conducting geological surveys and scientific experiments on the Moon.This partnership exemplifies the next generation of commercial spaceflight innovation, advancing human exploration beyond Earth and laying the groundwork for sustainable lunar presence.Must Watch
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