NASA Moon Mission Spacesuit Nears Milestone

Artemis III lunar spacesuit developed by Axiom Space passes contractor review as NASA prepares for historic Moon return.

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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NASA's next-generation spacesuit for the Artemis III mission, called the AxEMU (Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit) and developed by Axiom Space, has passed a key contractor-led technical review. The suit is designed to provide astronauts increased flexibility and mobility for moonwalking, including bending down to collect geology samples. NASA will now evaluate the spacesuit's readiness for the Artemis III mission that will return American astronauts to the Moon's South Pole for the first time.

Why it matters

The successful development of the Artemis III spacesuit is a critical milestone for NASA's ambitious plans to establish a sustained human presence on the Moon. The increased capabilities of the AxEMU suit will enable astronauts to conduct more complex scientific tasks and exploration on the lunar surface.

The details

The AxEMU spacesuit features increased sizing options and adjustability to fit a wider range of crew members. It incorporates advanced life-support systems and enhanced protection to withstand the harsh lunar environment. Axiom Space is also developing specialized tools and equipment for work on the lunar surface, allowing astronauts to more easily gather geology samples. Now that Axiom Space has completed their technical review, NASA will evaluate whether the spacesuit is ready for the Artemis III mission through a critical design sync review.

  • The AxEMU spacesuit passed a contractor-led technical review in February 2026.
  • Axiom Space has begun receiving parts for the first flight unit, which will be assembled later this spring.

The players

Axiom Space

A company that is developing the AxEMU (Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit) spacesuit for NASA's Artemis III mission to the Moon.

NASA

The U.S. space agency that is leading the Artemis program to return astronauts to the Moon, including the Artemis III mission that will land on the lunar South Pole.

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What’s next

NASA will conduct a critical design sync review to confirm the AxEMU spacesuit's hardware and systems are on track for final testing and delivery.

The takeaway

The advanced capabilities of the new AxEMU spacesuit, including increased flexibility, mobility, and protection, will enable Artemis III astronauts to conduct more complex scientific exploration and tasks on the lunar surface as NASA works towards establishing a sustained human presence on the Moon.