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ScienceAlert Reveals an Undisclosed Detail in NASA’s New Spacesuit

NASA has unveiled a new prototype for space suit destined to grace the next astronaut on the moon. But the display is a bit misleading.

At an event on March 15, NASA and new space suit contractor, Axiom Space, is out with their first iteration of the Artemis-generation lunar astronaut suit.

Dubbed the “Next Generation AxEMY”, it is a spacesuit that will protect The first astronaut to walk on the moon Since 1972 — including the first woman and the first person of color to set foot on the moon, by 2025 at the earliest, according to NASA’s plans.

Axiom Space chief engineer Jim Stein demonstrates the flexibility of the prototype, Houston, March 15, 2023. (Photo David J. Phillip/AP)

The build includes new joints that will allow astronauts to move more easily than Apollo spacesuits, and shoes made for walking instead of jumping, for the first human landing. At the south pole of the frozen moon.

But one distinguishing feature overshadows the others: color. Sleek stripes of orange and blue lay against a dark suit, black as a blank space.

Design reflects elegance Dark brilliance from the SpaceX spacecraftSpacesuits in some science fiction filmspace exploration Fortnite Clothing and other future cosmic exploration visions. But if an astronaut were to wear them on the moon, he would be in grave danger.

When the first Artemis lunar astronauts from the Starship exit to the lunar surface, they will be wearing Axiom spacesuits, but they will be white.

Astronaut John Young salutes the flag as he jumps during the Apollo 16 mission. (NASA/Charlie Duke)

Astronauts can’t wear black on the moon

The Apollo Moon suit is white for a reason.

In harsh environments with no atmosphere to protect you from the sun, temperature regulation is key to survival. Spacesuits must be reflective and well insulated to keep astronauts cool in unfiltered sunlight.

In the new prototype, “the current shell layer is used for display purposes only to disguise the suit’s proprietary design,” Axiom Space wrote in a paper. launch.

An engineer lifts one foot off the ground in a black prototype space suit
The prototype had a black hood to hide the design belonging to the spacesuit. (David J. Phillip / AP photo)

The company designed the cover layers with Esther Marquis, a costume designer for Apple TV+ series for all mankindwhich imagines what might have happened if the space race had gone differently.

The actual appearance of the spacesuit for Artemis’ first mission is still a mystery today.

Full view of a typical black spacesuit
You can’t dress like that on the moon. (Javanese Mani / Axiom Room)

“The white version will be provided directly to NASA. We are offering a fleet of training spacesuits for delivery to NASA later this summer,” Axiom spokeswoman Meredith Moore told Insider in an email.

As for the public disclosure of the original white coat, Moore said, “We don’t have a date at this time, but it is something we will continue to collaborate with NASA on.”

This article was originally published by Interested business.

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