The AxEMU is Axiom Space's lunar spacesuit, planned for NASA astronauts walking on the Moon during Artemis III.
axiom-axemu-spacesuit The Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit, or AxEMU, is the spacesuit Axiom Space is building for NASA's Artemis III mission. Astronauts will wear it to walk on the lunar surface, in the dusty, extreme-temperature south polar region. It is made under a NASA commercial services contract and derives from NASA's own xEMU suit.
The outer layer is a white material that reflects heat and protects against lunar dust. Axiom Space developed its design and materials jointly with Prada. The joints mix soft and hard parts to give a wider range of motion.
Planned moonwalking suit for astronauts on the lunar surface during NASA's Artemis III mission, under a NASA commercial services contract. It is designed for the dusty, extreme-temperature south polar region.
The suit's outer layer for the Moon is a white material that reflects heat and protects the astronauts from extreme high temperatures and lunar dust. Its design and materials were developed jointly with Prada. A dark cover seen on display versions is for display only.
The mobility joints combine soft and hard sections to give a greater range of motion. They belong to a design that builds on NASA's xEMU suit, with more flexibility and more protection.
The suit has multiple redundant systems, which are duplicated so that one can cover for another, and an onboard diagnostic system. It is sized to fit at least 90% of U.S. men and women.
The AxEMU grows out of NASA's xEMU design. Axiom Space is developing it under a NASA commercial services contract for Artemis III. A prototype was first shown on 15 March 2023 at Space Center Houston, and the flight design was unveiled on 16 October 2024.
SpaceX
Planned lunar-lander ride; suit-lander integration tested on Starship development hardware; not flown. 2026 plans move the first lunar landing to Artemis IV
NASA
Indirect, via xEMU: NASA built the xEMU to advance the technologies of the current EMU
AxEMU builds on NASA's xEMU design and data
Outer layer (2024) and the liquid cooling and ventilation garment (2026), designed with Axiom
Visor system and secondary bubble optics
4G/LTE device modules for the PLSS
In-suit nutrition system
Named industry team member on the Axiom xEVAS contract; role not stated
Named industry team member on the Axiom xEVAS contract; role not stated
Named industry team member on the Axiom xEVAS contract; role not stated
Named industry team member on the Axiom xEVAS contract; role not stated
Named industry team member on the Axiom xEVAS contract; role not stated
NASA xEMU xPGS and boots work; also an Axiom xEVAS team member, role for AxEMU not stated
NASA xEMU boots and hip and waist joints (2020 contracts); not confirmed for AxEMU
NASA Artemis astronauts are to wear the suits
Public pages from Axiom Space, NASA and Prada name no materials for the suit. They do not give its layers, mass, working pressure or how long a spacewalk can last.
What is written above is built from these numbers and quotes. Each row links to the page it was taken from. Get all of it as JSON, or ask our MCP server.
| What | Value |
|---|---|
| First reveal (prototype) | 15 March 2023, Space Center Houston |
| Flight design unveiled | 16 October 2024 |
| Sizing | fits at least 90% of U.S. men and women |
| EVA duration | Up to 8 hours |
| Cold exposure | At least 2 hours in permanently shadowed regions |
| Crewed pressurised test time (Nov 2025) | Over 700 hours |
| Crewed pressurised test time (Feb 2026) | Over 850 hours |
| Contractor technical review | Passed a contractor-led technical review (Feb 2026) |
| Planned suit fleet: qualification suits | Two qualification suits (mobility and life-support focused) |
| Planned suit fleet: flight suits | One ISS demo suit and two Artemis 4 flight suits |
| First lunar-surface use | Artemis IV, 2028 |
| In-space test | Planned 2027 on the ISS or Artemis 3 |
| First task order | $228 million, 7 September 2022 |
| xEVAS contract ceiling | $3.5 billion through 2034 for all task orders |
| Prada partnership announced | 4 October 2023 |
| Oakley partnership announced | 11 July 2025 |
| LCVG unveiled | 7 June 2026 |
| xEMU mass estimate (May 2020) | 183.6 kg (404.8 lb) for one xEMU |
| xEMU mass allocation for HLS | 177.1 kg (390.4 lb) |
| xEMU end items and vendors | 92 distinct end items from 27 contractors and vendors |
| xEMU entry (ConOps) | Rear-entry suit |
| xEMU EVA length (ConOps) | Up to 8 hours (6 +/- 2 hours) |
| xEMU planned informatics | Heads-up display type capability planned for a later phase |
No material is named in public Axiom or NASA pages read; only a white outer layer for heat and dust is described. Components, suppliers and links were added from public sources. A material is left blank where no source states it.
| Part | Material | Finish and standard | Made by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Outer layer, lunar-surface suit“a white material that reflects heat and protects astronauts from extreme high temperatures and lunar dust” | Not said | — | — |
| Outer layer, display version“a dark cover layer for display purposes only” | Not said | — | — |
| Part | Material | Finish and standard | Made by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobility joints“soft and hard joints for an increased range of motion” | Not said | — | — |
| Part | Material | Finish and standard | Made by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portable Life Support System (PLSS) backpack (AxEMU)Backpack that carries the suit's life support; Axiom is integrating a 4G/LTE radio module into it“integrate a high-speed 4G/LTE network capability into the Portable Life Support System (PLSS)” | Not said | — | — |
| Oxygen supply (xEMU xPLSS design basis)Gives the astronaut breathing oxygen; xEMU ConOps also lists a secondary oxygen supply worth about an hour“provides the astronaut with oxygen” | Not said | — | — |
| Carbon dioxide, odour and humidity removal (xEMU xPLSS design basis)Scrubs the circulating oxygen; Axiom says the LCVG's ventilation loop routes gas back through the life-support CO2 scrubber“removes carbon dioxide, odors, and humidity that build up inside the suit” | Not said | — | — |
| Oxygen circulation fan (xEMU xPLSS design basis)Fan that circulates oxygen through the suit and helps hold body temperature“incorporating a fan to circulate oxygen” | Not said | — | — |
| Spacesuit Water Membrane Evaporator (SWME) cooling (xEMU xPLSS design basis)Evaporator that provides cooling and ventilation for the xEMU; a mini-PLSS carrying it was sent to the ISS as the SERFE experiment“Spacesuit Water Membrane Evaporator (SWME), which provides cooling and ventilation for the xEMU” | Not said | — | — |
| Display and Control Unit (xEMU xPLSS design basis)Unit the astronauts use to control all critical suit functions“Display and Control Unit, which the astronauts use to control all critical functions” | Not said | — | — |
| Caution and Warning System controllers (xEMU xPLSS design basis)Avionics boards that control the critical life support components and raise warnings“update the Caution and Warning System, the avionics that control the critical life support components” | Not said | — | — |
| Suit battery (xEMU design basis)Powers the suit when it is not on vehicle power; capacity and chemistry not stated“Switch from vehicle power to suit battery power” | Not said | — | — |
| Part | Material | Finish and standard | Made by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pressure Garment Assembly with thermal-micrometeoroid cover (AxEMU; xEMU xPGS design basis)Pressure-holding suit body; in the xEMU the xPGS is covered by thermal material that insulates and guards against micrometeoroids“covered by a thermal material that insulates the astronaut, prevents heat loss, and protects the astronaut from micrometeoroids” | Not said | — | — |
| Hard Upper Torso (HUT) in several base sizes (AxEMU)Rigid torso; the macro sizing of the suit follows the HUT, with several base sizes covering 1st to 99th percentile crew“With several base HUT sizes, we’ll be able to accommodate 1st to 99th percentile crewmember sizes” | Not said | — | — |
| Shoulder joints (xEMU xPGS design basis)Mobility joints of the xEMU pressure garment“Hard-Upper Torso, helmet, extravehicular visor assembly, shoulder joints, gloves, and boots” | Not said | — | — |
| Hip and waist joints with highly mobile lower torso (xEMU design basis)Highly mobile lower torso for walking and kneeling; NASA contracted Final Frontier Design for the hip and waist joints“Final Frontier Design to develop xEMU components, including the boots and hip and waist joints” | Not said | — | Supplier: Final Frontier Design (NASA xEMU contracts, 2020; not confirmed for AxEMU) |
| Boots with insulating sole for permanently shadowed regions (AxEMU)Boot sole insulation sized for about -250 F ground; lunar-specific boots differ from the ISS-demo boot“The boot sole provides the insulation needed to accommodate –250°F temperatures.” | Not said | — | — |
| Custom gloves for specialised lunar tools (AxEMU)Glove design meant for tool work; no heaters or fingertip materials stated“The new AxEMU custom glove design will enable astronauts to work with specialized tools to accomplish exploration needs and expand scientific opportunities.” | Not said | — | — |
| Hand-sewn soft goods (AxEMU)Fabric parts of the suit are sewn in Axiom's Houston Soft Goods Lab“The suits are produced in the company’s Soft Goods Lab in Houston” | Not said | — | — |
| Lunar-dust-tolerant features (AxEMU)Features that let the suit and its interfaces withstand the dusty lunar surface“It utilizes features to withstand the dusty environment of the lunar surface” | Not said | — | — |
| Part | Material | Finish and standard | Made by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Two-part deployable visor system (AxEMU)Visor that slides and stows for adjustable sun protection; made with Oakley“Two-part deployable visor that slides and stows seamlessly for adjustable protection” | Not said | — | Supplier: Oakley |
| Secondary helmet bubble (AxEMU)Extra bubble that shields the wearer from UV radiation and lunar dust“Secondary helmet bubble protects the astronaut from UV radiation and lunar dust” | Not said | — | — |
| Helmet-mounted lights (xEMU design basis)Illuminate the area around the suit; NASA is weighing hand-held, suit-mounted or deployed lights for longer walks“the xEMU helmet illuminates the immediate area around the spacesuit” | Not said | — | — |
| Suit information camera and onboard recorder (xEMU design basis)Integrated camera for still photos and video, with recording on the suit if the link to Mission Control is lost“Still photography is required and may be completed by the integrated xEVA suit info camera” | Not said | — | — |
| Part | Material | Finish and standard | Made by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liquid Cooling and Ventilation Garment (LCVG) with redundant cooling circuit (AxEMU)Undergarment with tubes carrying cold water across major muscle groups and a separate oxygen loop to the face“Unlike legacy cooling garments, the Axiom Space LCVG features a fully redundant cooling circuit” | Not said | — | Supplier: Prada (engineered knitting, design and fibre sourcing, with Axiom Space) |
| In-suit nutrition system (AxEMU)Hands-free energy gel delivery inside the suit“has partnered with GU Energy Labs to develop an advanced in-suit nutrition system for astronauts” | Not said | — | Supplier: GU Energy Labs |
| Waste management provisions (xEMU ISS Demo design basis)Waste handling in the ISS Demo suit, which shares capabilities with the xEMU“The ISS Demo suit will test key technologies such as ventilation, thermal regulation, power, system controls, garment cooling, and waste management.” | Not said | — | — |
| Part | Material | Finish and standard | Made by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nokia 4G/LTE cellular device modules (AxEMU)Radio modules for voice, telemetry and HD video over cellular links on the Moon“device modules that will be integrated into the AxEMU spacesuits” | Not said | — | Supplier: Nokia |
| Exploration Informatics Subsystem (xINFO) avionics (xEMU design basis)Suit avionics for crew autonomy: HD video, worksite lighting, data recording, antenna and harnesses“including high-definition video, worksite illumination, high-rate suit data recording” | Not said | — | — |
| Space-to-Space Exploration EMU Radio (xEMU design basis)Suit radio; a function was added so non-critical avionics failures cannot cause critical communications failures“Space-to-Space Exploration EMU Radio” | Not said | — | — |
| Part | Material | Finish and standard | Made by |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Interface to Suit Equipment (VISE) (xEMU design basis)Wall-mounted rack that connects the suit to vehicle fluids, power, data and communications; separate units for ISS and HLS“The VISE connects the xEMU to vehicle fluids, power, suit/crew stabilization, data, and communications.” | Not said | — | — |
| Vehicle Loop Mode umbilicals (xEMU design basis)With the PLSS removed, umbilicals feed power, data, ventilation and thermal control from the host vehicle during descent and ascent“install closed-loop umbilical(s) between the Exploration Pressure Garment System (xPGS) and host vehicle for power, data, ventilation, and thermal control” | Not said | — | — |
| Exploration Servicing, Performance and Checkout Equipment (xSPCE) (xEMU design basis)Lander-side support equipment used to check out oxygen, battery, cooling and comms of the suits“Exploration Servicing, Performance and Checkout Equipment (xSPCE)” | Not said | — | — |
| Don Doff Frame in the HLS airlock (AxEMU test)Frame used to get into and out of the suit inside the lander airlock“Villadei used the Don Doff Frame (DDF) in the Human Landing System Airlock to get in and out of the AxEMU” | Not said | — | — |
| Tool Boggan sled with tether mounts (AxEMU test)Sled-like platform that carries tools on tethers and could serve as a rescue device“a sled-like platform designed to mount tools with tethers” | Not said | — | — |
| Lunar sample tool set: sample bag dispenser, bags, scoop, hammer and easel (AxEMU test)Tools stowed on and used with the suit for geology work“The tools tested included a sample bag dispenser, sample bags, a scoop, a hammer, and an easel.” | Not said | — | — |
| xEVA tools and support equipment: handrails, walking aids, rake, scoop, wrench, drill, scissors, dust-mitigation kit (xEMU design basis)NASA's tool set for physical support, geology, construction and dust control that goes with the xEMU“tools include equipment used for physical support (handrails and walking aids)” | Not said | — | — |
| Suit and crew interfaces on Astrolab's FLEX rover (AxEMU)Axiom designs the EVA-centred parts of the FLEX rover: crew and spacesuit interfaces and tool containers“designing EVA centric components of the rover, such as vehicle interfaces for both crew and spacesuits” | Not said | — | Supplier: Astrolab (rover); Axiom Space (interfaces) |
No specific materials, layers, mass, pressure or EVA duration found on Axiom (axiomspace.com), NASA or Prada pages read. Space.com article text could not be read in full. Collins Aerospace not covered. Photos not included. More detail: No AxEMU materials, layer stack, mass, operating pressure or battery data are public: Axiom and NASA pages name no fabrics, metals or cell chemistry, and Prada's 'specialized fibers' are not identified. Rows tagged 'xEMU design basis' come from NASA's 2021 OIG report IG-21-025 and the 2020 xEVA concept-of-operations slides and describe NASA's xEMU, which the AxEMU builds on; whether each detail carries over to the AxEMU is not stated, so treat them as design basis, not as confirmed AxEMU hardware. The per-component vendor chart in the OIG report (Figure 9) is an image, so only the vendors named in its text (Final Frontier Design, David Clark) are used; the 27 xEMU contractors and any AxEMU subcontractor roles (KBR, Air-Lock, Paragon, Sophic Synergistics, A-P-T Research, Arrow) are not published. Collins Aerospace is not an AxEMU supplier: it was an xEVAS awardee for the ISS suit and left that work in June 2024 (SpaceNews). Mission timing changed: older Axiom pages say Artemis III lunar landing, while Axiom's 2026 pages and Q&A say the first lunar-surface use is Artemis IV in 2028 and a 2027 flight test is planned on the ISS or Artemis 3; the Starship relation is therefore a planned lander ride only. No source ties the AxEMU lineage to the Apollo A7L, and NASA's xEVA concept of operations says the suits launch separately from the Orion crew on a cargo vehicle, Gateway module or lander, so no Orion relation is given. Not read: the New York Times June 2026 article (403), NASA's 2019 xEMU feature (old URL gone), the full Reddit AMA, and NASA technical papers on the xPLSS and pressure garment (none located before the shared web-search budget ran out). No source states glove heaters, a restraint or bladder layer, a helmet shell material or a drink bag for the AxEMU.
Collected from public pages and documents, checked 4 Nov 2026.
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