Future NASA moonwalkers to sport sleeker spacesuits


CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Moonwalking astronauts will have sleeker, more flexible spacesuits that come in different sizes when they step onto the lunar surface later this decade.

Exactly what that looks like remained under wraps. The company designing the next-generation spacesuits, Axiom Space, said Wednesday that it plans to have new versions for training purposes for NASA later this summer.

The moonsuits will be white like they were during NASA’s Apollo program more than a half-century ago, according to the company. That’s so they can reflect heat and keep future moonwalkers cool.

The suits will provide greater flexibility and more protection from the moon’s harsh environment, and will come in a wider range of sizes, according to the Houston-based company.

NASA awarded Axiom Space a $228.5 million contract to provide the outfits for the first moon landing in more than 50 years. The space agency is targeting late 2025 at the earliest to land two astronauts on the moon’s south pole.

At Wednesday’s event in Houston, an Axiom employee modeled a dark spacesuit, doing squats and twisting at the waist to demonstrate its flexibility. The company said the final version will be different, including the color.

“I didn’t want anybody to get that mixed up,” said Axiom’s Russell Ralston.

___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.


Recent Posts

LPSO investigating shooting in French Settlement

March 22, 2023 0

FRENCH SETTLEMENT, La. — Livingston Parish Sheriff’s deputies responded to the French Settlement area around 4pm on Wednesday, March 22, for a call for “shots fired” on Hwy. 16. “Upon arrival, deputies located a wounded […]

Lack of manpower, area growth sparks need of tax

March 22, 2023 0

POINTE COUPEE —- As the population on the south end of Pointe Coupee Parish continues to grow, the number of emergency responders has remained the same. To solve the problem, the Pointe Coupee Fire District […]

Teen accused of stabbing uncle three times

March 22, 2023 2

GONZALES, La. —- Gonzales police are investigating a 16-year-old accused of stabbing his uncle during a dispute. Officials say Gonzales Police received a report of a stabbing that occurred at a residence on West La […]

Be the first to comment

Leave a Reply

%d bloggers like this: