NASA intends to make human lunar landings in 2026—the first such landings since 1972. It’s evident from the new rockets, ship, and spacesuits that things have changed.
In late April, two astronauts test-fitted Axiom Space’s new spacesuits and tried out a dummy version of the vehicle that will carry them to the moon in order to get ready for the Artemis 3 lunar landing mission.
The first test of its kind since the Apollo era, according to scientists and engineers, gave feedback on how well the spacesuits, which Axiom is building, interacted with a test version of SpaceX’s Starship Human Landing System (HLS), NASA’s preferred vehicle to transport astronauts to and from the moon during the Artemis 3 mission. According to a NASA release, they were able to assess the HLS’s physical design, clearances, and layout.
NASA intends to make human lunar landings in 2026—the first such landings since 1972. It’s evident from the new rockets, ship, and spacesuits that things have changed.
In late April, two astronauts test-fitted Axiom Space’s new spacesuits and tried out a dummy version of the vehicle that will carry them to the moon in order to get ready for the Artemis 3 lunar landing mission.
The first test of its kind since the Apollo era, according to scientists and engineers, gave feedback on how well the spacesuits, which Axiom is building, interacted with a test version of SpaceX’s Starship Human Landing System (HLS), NASA’s preferred vehicle to transport astronauts to and from the moon during the Artemis 3 mission. According to a NASA release, they were able to assess the HLS’s physical design, clearances, and layout.
The three-hour test, conducted at SpaceX’s Hawthorne, California headquarters, was helpful in determining how flexible the spacesuits were and how simple it was to put them on and take off before stowing them in the airlock with little help.
Peggy Whitson of Axiom Space and Doug Wheelock of NASA put on spacesuits and entered a full-scale model of the airlock that sits atop the airlock deck of Starship. Axiom released a statement stating that each spacesuit also contained a full-scale “backpack” mockup of the portable life support equipment.
According to NASA, the astronauts engaged with an airlock control panel during the test to make sure the controls were accessible and could be operated while wearing gloves. Additionally, they had experience utilizing the test elevator that would transport astronauts and their gear from the Starship deck to the moon’s surface in order to perform moonwalks as part of the Artemis program.
Logan Kennedy, NASA’s lead for surface activities in the HLS Program, said in a NASA release, “Overall, I was pleased with the astronauts’ operation of the control panel and with their ability to perform the difficult tasks they will have to do before stepping onto the moon.” “The test also confirmed that the amount of space available in the airlock, on the deck, and in the elevator, are sufficient for the work our astronauts plan to do.”
NASA and Axiom unveiled a prototype of the spacesuit in March of last year called the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU). The spacesuit is intended to be worn by astronauts on the moon and during space missions. According to Axiom’s announcement, the firm has advanced past the NASA preliminary design review stage and will soon begin the critical design review phase.
Amit Kshatriya, NASA’s Moon to Mars program manager, stated in a NASA statement that “integrated tests like this one, with key programs and partners working together, are crucial to ensure systems operate smoothly and are safe and effective for astronauts before they take the next steps on the Moon.”
One of the empty spacesuits was tested by Axiom in NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory in April. To replicate the lunar environment, where gravity is just a sixth of Earth’s, the business placed weights to the suit. According to the company’s most recent announcement, an astronaut will put on the suit soon for the first test flight in the water.
SpaceX is working to make Starship, the spacecraft that takes humans to the moon, completely reusable in order to make lunar and eventually Mars travel more affordable. The business made progress toward that objective on Friday, June 7, when it completed a successful fourth test flight, ending with flawless water landings for both Starship and the vehicle’s Super Heavy booster.
However, NASA postponed its landing plans from the initial target landing in late 2025, and now expects humanity to return to the moon no earlier than September 2026. Delays have been caused by problems with the Orion spacecraft’s electrical system in the crew abort system, life support systems, and heatshield.
“We’re committed to launching as safely as possible as we prepare to send our friends and colleagues on this mission,” NASA assistant administrator Jim Free had told reporters in a January media teleconference. “And we will launch, when we’re ready.”
