Axiom Space, in partnership with KBR, has successfully completed a critical first test for NASA’s next-generation lunar spacesuit. The uncrewed thermal vacuum test of the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) Pressure Garment assessed the suit’s ability to withstand the extreme temperatures and vacuum of space.
The test, conducted inside a chamber at KBR’s Aerospace Environment Protection Laboratory (AEPL) in San Antonio, Texas, focused on evaluating the thermal performance and advanced materials designed to protect astronauts during the upcoming Artemis III mission. This mission aims to land humans near the Moon’s harsh and shadowed south pole.
“This successful test produced data to inform the AxEMU’s performance and readiness for operational use on the lunar surface,” said Russell Ralston, Axiom Space’s general manager of extravehicular activity. He emphasized the importance of seeing how the suit’s new materials and advanced protection will enable astronauts to work in permanently shadowed regions for at least two hours.
Notably, the test was completed at a historic facility. The AEPL is the same location where Apollo astronauts trained for their Moon landings, marking a symbolic link between past and future lunar exploration.
“This achievement reflects KBR’s position as a leader in human spaceflight innovation,” said Mark Kavanaugh, President of KBR’s Defense, Intel and Space division, highlighting the partnership’s role in advancing the Artemis program.
This thermal vacuum test is the first in a series of increasingly complex evaluations Axiom Space is conducting as it moves toward final suit qualification with NASA. Other milestones include over 700 hours of crewed pressurized testing and extensive underwater runs in NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, where astronauts train for spacewalks.
The next-generation AxEMU suit is designed to offer astronauts increased flexibility, greater protection from lunar dust and temperature extremes, and longer operational time on the surface. This technological advancement is a foundational step, not only for returning to the Moon but for enabling the future of human exploration deeper into the solar system.
