Tests confirm compatibility of Axiom spacesuits and SpaceX spacecraft for mission involving astronauts
In preparation for the Artemis III mission, which will land a crew on the Moon in 2026, NASA tested new spacesuits and a mock-up spacecraft with two astronauts.
The test, conducted at SpaceX headquarters in Hawthorne (California), was the first such experience since the Apollo program. It allowed engineers to evaluate the compatibility of spacesuits created by Axiom Space with a test version of the Human Landing System (HLS) of the SpaceX spacecraft that will take astronauts to the Moon and back.
During the three-hour test, astronauts Peggy Whitson (Axiom Space) and Doug Wheelock (NASA) donned spacesuits in a full-scale mock-up of the airlock aboard Starship. Each suit was equipped with a full-size mock-up of a portable life support system.
Astronauts tested the capabilities of spacesuits, checking for flexibility, ease of donning and doffing. They also worked with the control panel in the airlock and tested the elevator that will deliver the crew to the lunar surface.
«The astronauts successfully completed the tasks they will perform before landing on the Moon. The check also showed that the space in the airlock, on the deck and in the elevator is sufficient for the astronauts to work comfortably,», — said Logan Kennedy, NASA's HLS program manager for ground operations.
The results will provide valuable information to prepare for the first human landing on the Moon since 1972. Future missions of «Artemis» will aim to establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon, paving the way for future missions to Mars.
In preparation for the Artemis III mission, NASA and Axiom Space continue to develop new spacesuits and spacecraft. Last March, they unveiled a prototype of the Axiom Extravehicle Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit, designed to be used as during flight and on the surface of the Moon. The company has passed the preliminary design review stage and will soon move to the critical design review stage.
In April, Axiom tested one of the suits at NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory, adding weights to simulate the gravity of the Moon. In the near future, the astronaut will put on a spacesuit for the first test «flight» in aquatic environment.
Meanwhile, SpaceX is working on developing the Starship spacecraft, which will take astronauts to the Moon. On June 7, the company conducted a successful fourth test launch, which ended with a soft landing on water of the Super Heavy launch vehicle and the Starship itself.
However, man's return to the Moon is now expected no earlier than September 2026, — NASA has postponed the previously planned landing from the end of 2025. The delays are caused by problems with the Orion spacecraft's heat shield, life support systems and the crew's electrical abort system.