In the year 2022, Axiom Space and Collins Aerospace have been selected by NASA to develop the next generation of spacesuits, ultimately intended to replace aging equipment used by astronauts to date.
Now the space agency has expanded their existing contracts, giving them $5 million each to design and develop new spacesuits that weren’t included in their original applications.
NASA has ordered a spacesuit from space company Axiom intended for use in low Earth orbit, specifically for spacewalks outside the International Space Station. Axiom’s original contract was for a spacewalk system worn by Artemis III astronauts when they landed on the moon. Month.
Axiom unveiled its first-class prototype in March, which included a suit that allowed the user to move around easily, a helmet with a high-resolution camera, and a lightweight body.
Meanwhile, Collins Aerospace has received an order for a lunar spacesuit, previously contracted to develop practical spacewalks for use outside the International Space Station. In other words, each firm received a new order that mirrored the other party’s previous order.
“This mission directs NASA to provide additional capabilities if needed or useful to NASA missions as the agency paves the way for deep space exploration,” said Laura Kearney, director of the Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program at NASA Johnson. method. Space Center in Houston. “The Earth is down, and using this competitive approach, we will increase redundancy, expand future capabilities, and invest more in the space economy.”
Redundancy is an important part of space technology development, so single-use spacesuits made by two different companies can ensure that astronauts have something to use if the other fails for any reason.
However, the new mission orders are for the company’s initial “design modification work” — essentially reconfiguring their original suits for a new purpose — and NASA wants to see them first before committing to continued development.
Axiom told SpaceNews that if NASA decided to continue developing new spacesuits, the full order would cost the agency $142 million over four years.
