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show notes. NASA's Artemis program, with its ambitious goal to return humans to the moon, has entered A crucial phase in its development, particularly concerning the space suits that will be worn by astronauts.
Now Axiom Space, which is a private company, has been tasked with developing these next generation lunar space suits, which recently underwent rigorous testing at NASA's Johnson Space Center. The testing included a series of mobility tests that astronauts will need to perform on the moon, such as picking up samples and also using geological tools.
The design and testing of the Axiom space suits are integral to Artemis Mission's success, and these suits are being put through their paces and environments that stimulates the moon's partial gravity. Like NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Lab, ensuring the suits meet NASA's stringent safety and performance requirements is a top priority, as these garments will support the first woman and the first person of color to set
foot on the lunar surface. Now a significant milestone of the development of these space suits is the Critical Design Review, which axioms space officials hinted could occur as
soon as June of this year. Now this milestone comes amidst delays in the Artemis program, with a lunar landing now slated for no earlier than 2026. This shift in timelines has been attributed to various challenges, including those related to the space suit development itself and also the SpaceX Starship. Now The new space suits promise enhanced flexibility compared to their Apollo era predecessors, addressing one of the key issues faced by astronauts in the past.
However, the journey to this point has not been without his hurdles. NASA's initial plans for space suit development face delays due to funding issues, the COVID-19 pandemic, and technical challenges, leading to a pivot towards involving private vendors like Axiom Space and Collins Aerospace. The Axiom Extra Vehicular Mobility unit, the AX EMU, was unveiled in a live stream event, although certain details were obscured to protect proprietary
information. The development of Axemu involves the consortium of industry experts highlighting the collaborative effort required to bring this critical component of lunar exploration to fruition. Now The environments that astronauts will face on the Moon, especially in the South Pole region where astronauts and Artemis missions are targeted, present very unique challenges.
And unlike the Apollo missions from about 50 years ago, which explored the Equatorial region, Artemis astronauts will encounter colder temperatures and potentially water ice. The Axe Emo is being designed to withstand these conditions, with testing and vacuum chambers and underwater simulations to ensure readiness. And NASA's current space suits, designed decades ago for the Space Shuttle program, are not
suited for lunar exploration. This necessitates the development of a new generation of space suits that can accommodate A wider range of astronaut body types and enable complex movements required for lunar surface activities. The inclusion and accommodation of diverse astronaut body types in the new space suit design shows that NASA has been evolving and they're hiring practices and their commitment
to diversity is showing through. The Axiomu aims to support astronauts of various sizes and genders, which is a significant step forward from the limitations of past spacesuit
designs. The Artemis program is not just a series of missions though that's been put together of broader collaboration and coalition of over 30 nations committed to peaceful lunar exploration under the Artemis Accords. This international collaboration underscores the global interest in returning to the Moon and the importance of setting precedents for future space exploration.
And despite the excitement surrounding the Artemis program in its milestones, recent delays have raised concerns about the pace of progress, especially in comparison to other nations lunar ambitions. The race to the Moon is not just a technical challenge, but also a geopolitical one, with significant implications for international cooperation and
norms and space exploration. The unveiling of the AXMU and the ongoing testing at NASA facilities keep public interest alive in the Artemis program, despite the postponements. And these space suits are not just vital for astronaut safety, but also represent the tangible progress being made towards returning humans back to the lunar surface after about half
of a century. The rigorous testing regime for the AXMU, including simulated moon walks and underwater test, shows that the thoroughness of the preparedness is required for lunar exploration in every aspect of the SU's design, from mobility to resistance to lunar dust and temperatures.
Being scrutinized every single step of the way to ensure the success of future missions and the development of the Eximu and its testing are crucial steps for the Artemis program, laying the foundation for the next era of lunar exploration. Like NASA says, From the Moon to Mars and beyond in these efforts under score the complexity of the challenges of sending humans back to the Moon, from ensuring the safety and effectiveness of space suits to meeting the logistical demands of such
ambitious missions. And as the Artemis program progresses, the importance of safety, innovation, and international cooperation remains at the forefront. The development of the X EMU suit is a key component of this endeavor, representing the cutting edge technology and collaborative spirit that will enable humans to return to the
moon. The AXMU design, testing, and eventual deployment are critical milestones in the Artemis program, symbolizing the advancements in space technology and the collaborative efforts required to push the boundaries of human space exploration past the moon. Now NASA and Axiom Space are collaborating, but they're also using other industry partners. And this is a modern approach to space exploration. For public and private partnerships play a crucial role in achieving ambitious goals
like the Artemis lunar missions. And as the Artemis program continues to develop, the focus on innovation, safety, and inclusivity in space suit design reflects the evolving priorities and challenges of space exploration in the 21st century.
Now for the Artemis program and the progress of it, particularly in the development of the XEMU space suit by Axiom Space shows that there's a balance between technical innovation, safety considerations, and international collaboration, which is required to extend human presence beyond Earth.
Despite these delays, though that are happening, the continued testing and refinement of the space suits are vital steps toward achieving the goal of returning astronauts to the Moon, which sets the stage for future exploration and discovery past the Moon and out to Mars. Hey, thank you so much for listening today. I really do appreciate your
support. If you could take a second and hit the subscribe or the follow button on whatever podcast platform that you're listening on right now, I greatly appreciate it. It helps out the show tremendously and you'll never miss an episode. And each. Episode is about 10 minutes or less to get you caught up quickly. And please, if you want to support the show even more, go to patreon.com/stagezero. Please take care of yourselves and each other and I'll see you tomorrow.