A report from NASA's Office of the Inspector General (OIG) reveals a concerning situation: the future Artemis lunar spacesuits may not arrive until 2031. This three-year delay compared to the 2028 target jeopardizes the tight schedule for returning to the Moon. Yet NASA's administrator assures that a new strategy will speed things up.
To understand these difficulties, we need to go back to 2022. At that time, the space agency entrusted the development of next-generation spacesuits to two companies: Axiom Space and Collins Aerospace. But Collins withdrew after two years, leaving Axiom as the sole supplier. The program then accumulated delays, notably due to technical difficulties and contractual constraints. The current International Space Station spacesuits, too old and unsuitable for lunar excursions, cannot be used.
The last lunar spacesuit used was from the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. NASA is counting on Axiom to provide a new one.
Credit: NASA/JSC/ASU To counter these delays, NASA administrator Jared Isaacman assures that the lunar spacesuits will be operational by 2028 for the Artemis 4 mission. He is relying on a revision of requirements deemed too burdensome and on an in-orbit evaluation as early as 2027. Axiom, for its part, says it is confident and plans a critical design review this year. The company has learned from NASA's internal xEMU prototype and has partnered with companies like Prada for the aesthetic part.
The OIG report points to the type of contract chosen by NASA: a fixed-price, service-based contract that exposed the program to schedule and cost risks. The agency also reportedly had overly complex requirements for lunar and microgravity environments. But Jared Isaacman acknowledges these mistakes and announces a new directive.
These new spacesuits will be tested in Earth orbit in 2027, either aboard the International Space Station or during the Artemis 3 mission. This full-scale test will validate their operation before lunar use. At the same time, NASA faces budget cuts: the White House's proposed 2027 budget reduces agency funds by 23% and science funding by 47%.
Finally, NASA is launching an initiative called "NASA Force" to recruit experts from the private sector for one- to two-year missions. This reinforcement aims to compensate for the loss of thousands of employees in 2025 and strengthen the agency's capacity.
Lunar spacesuits
Spacesuits used for walking on the Moon are far more than simple clothing. They protect astronauts from radiation, extreme temperatures (from -238°F to 248°F / -150°C to +120°C), and micrometeorites. They must also provide enough mobility to collect samples or use tools. Apollo models were heavy and rigid, but new versions, like Axiom's, incorporate modern materials and 21st-century technologies, such as health sensors or improved gloves.
Developing these suits is very challenging because they must be suited for two environments: the weightlessness of space and lunar gravity (one-sixth of Earth's). Engineers must also manage power supply, communication, and air recycling. Every detail matters, and a simple flaw can endanger astronauts' lives, hence rigorous testing and many years of design.