NASA’s Moon Spacesuits Are Plagued With Issues

NASA’s Artemis 3: The Race to Perfect Moon Suits as Astronauts Prepare for Historic Lunar Return

As NASA prepares to return humans to the Moon for the first time since 1972, the stakes have never been higher—and neither has the scrutiny on the technology that will keep astronauts alive. With Artemis 3 targeted for late 2026, the agency faces mounting pressure to finalize its lunar spacesuits, a critical piece of hardware that could make or break the mission.

The spotlight is on Axiom Space, the Houston-based company contracted to design NASA’s next-generation Moon suits. At a recent National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine meeting, former NASA astronaut and microbiologist Kate Rubins—who spent 300 days in space before retiring last year—raised red flags about the current state of the suits. “What I think we have on the Moon that we don’t really have on the space station that I want people to recognize is an extreme physical stress,” Rubins warned. She emphasized that astronauts will be “in these suits for eight or nine hours” and performing extravehicular activities (EVAs) “every day.”

The Axiom suits, while a significant upgrade from the Apollo-era gear, come with their own set of challenges. Weighing in at 300 pounds, they are considerably heavier than their predecessors. However, the reduced gravity on the Moon—about one-sixth of Earth’s—will help offset some of that weight. The suits also promise enhanced flexibility, allowing astronauts to kneel and move more freely than during the Apollo missions. But Rubins remains skeptical. “I think the suits are better than Apollo, but I don’t think they are great right now,” she said, citing “flexibility issues” and the likelihood that “people are going to be falling over.”

Falling on the Moon is no small concern. During the Apollo missions, astronauts famously struggled with balance, and getting back up after a fall required a “jumping pushup,” a maneuver Rubins described as “non-trivial” and “risky.” While current NASA astronaut and physician Mike Barratt offered a more optimistic take, noting that the suits have undergone “700 hours of pressurized experience,” the challenges remain significant.

NASA is leaving no stone unturned in its testing regimen. The suits have been put through their paces in parabolic flights that simulate lunar gravity and underwater trials at NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Lab. These tests are crucial as the agency races to finalize the design before Artemis 3. But the suits are just one piece of the puzzle. NASA is also grappling with how to get astronauts from lunar orbit to the surface, with decisions still pending between Blue Origin and SpaceX’s lander designs.

The pressure is mounting as the 2026 launch window approaches. “Experts Warn That There’s Something Wrong With the Moon Rocket NASA Is About to Launch With Astronauts Aboard,” read a recent headline, underscoring the high stakes of the mission. With so much riding on Artemis 3, every detail—from the suits to the spacecraft—will be under intense scrutiny.

As NASA pushes forward, the world watches, eager to witness the next giant leap for humankind. But as Rubins’ comments highlight, the path to the Moon is fraught with challenges that demand innovative solutions and unwavering determination.

Tags: NASA, Artemis 3, Moon missions, lunar spacesuits, Axiom Space, Kate Rubins, space exploration, extravehicular activities, lunar surface, Blue Origin, SpaceX, Neutral Buoyancy Lab, parabolic flights, space technology, human spaceflight

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