Posts: 35 From: Katonah, NY USA Registered: Oct 2005
posted 03-15-2023 12:05 PM
Did they say what the plan was to test the suit in space before Artemis III?
Headshot Member
Posts: 1343 From: Vancouver, WA, USA Registered: Feb 2012
posted 03-15-2023 01:58 PM
This event felt like a poorly-written, 30-minute infomercial for Axiom space suits. They gave no metrics about how this new suit performed better and was safer, than the Apollo suits. They did not even state how many hours an astronaut could moonwalk in this suit as opposed to the old A7-LB Apollo suit.
Would have been nice to see a mobility demo video of this suit, fully pressurized, in a vacuum chamber. Having someone walk around at 1 atmosphere, with a backpack sans PLSS, while attached to an A/C hose just did not cut it for me. At least the little headlights worked.
I understand that there are proprietary issues that Axiom feels should be protected. But certainly NASA has measurable performance requirements for the new moon suit that could have been discussed.
Jim Behling Member
Posts: 1942 From: Cape Canaveral, FL Registered: Mar 2010
posted 03-15-2023 03:40 PM
quote:Originally posted by Headshot: This event felt like a poorly-written, 30-minute infomercial for Axiom space suits.
Stop holding the present era programs to higher standards than Apollo. You didn't get the Apollo data you are requesting until years and decades later with the books and then internet.
quote:Would have been nice to see a mobility demo video of this suit, fully pressurized, in a vacuum chamber.
Other than the safety implications, there is no difference in EVA suit mobility whether pressurized to 3.8 psia in a vacuum or 18.5 psia at 1 atm. All that matters is the differential, which is 3.8 psi in both cases.
David C Member
Posts: 1460 From: Lausanne Registered: Apr 2012
posted 03-15-2023 03:44 PM
I’d like to see one of the old Apollo moonwalkers try it. But I suppose that's not reasonable, given their ages.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 53355 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 03-15-2023 04:40 PM
quote:Originally posted by backof: Did they say what the plan was to test the suit in space before Artemis III?
They said the suit will not be tested in space before Artemis III. The suit's design will be finalized in 2025, a few months before the mission is scheduled (as of today) to launch. NASA does not have a requirement for a suit to fly before Artemis III.
quote:Originally posted by Headshot: They did not even state how many hours an astronaut could moonwalk in this suit...
The question was asked and answered during the later press session.
We're designing the suit for a nominal eight-hour length. Certainly, in the right conditions, the suit could go longer than that.
It's a step up from the current-day spacesuits. The current spacesuit is designed to six and half hours at what we call low metabolic rate — basically, how hard you're working in a suit. We designed this suit to a higher metabolic rate and eight hours, which is a pretty huge step up in performance in terms of EVA capability.
quote:Would have been nice to see a mobility demo video of this suit...
And that might still come. This event was billed as simply the unveiling of the new suit. There will be future events demonstrating its capabilities as the Artemis III mission nears.
328KF Member
Posts: 1391 From: Registered: Apr 2008
posted 03-15-2023 05:26 PM
I wonder if the white will be a covering over this suit? There are overlapping gaps in the fabric at the hips, shoulders, and chest that are going to be big traps for lunar regolith. Given the frequency of motion in at least two of these areas, I would think the soil going to shred the fabric in short order.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 53355 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 03-15-2023 05:51 PM
The white outer layer will be a different design than the black protective layer designed for Earth-use only.
Axiom Space officials said today that the outer layer on the moon-bound suits will be bulked up in areas where they expected the most wear (like the knees) and may even feature tear-away layers, so the areas that see the most dust incursion can be cleared away.
Headshot Member
Posts: 1343 From: Vancouver, WA, USA Registered: Feb 2012
posted 03-15-2023 06:41 PM
quote:Originally posted by Jim Behling: You didn't get the Apollo data you are requesting until years and decades later with the books and then internet.
In actuality, some detailed technical information about the Apollo moon suit was given as early as February 1965 in Aviation Week & Space Technology. The information, including arm elevation, what metabolic rates the suit could handle and for how long, came from the prime contractor, Hamilton Standard.
Jim Behling Member
Posts: 1942 From: Cape Canaveral, FL Registered: Mar 2010
posted 03-16-2023 10:18 AM
That wasn't the actual suit, since the ILC suit wasn't selected until July.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 53355 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 04-29-2024 07:05 PM
From Axiom Space (via X):
The AxEMU entered the water for the first time this week at NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL). Testing was conducted with an unoccupied spacesuit, adding weights to accurately simulate the lunar environment, where gravitational forces are 1/6th of Earth's.
With the successful conclusion of this trial run, the next NBL suit run will have our very own astronaut inside ... stay tuned!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 53355 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 05-15-2024 02:53 PM
Cleo Abram video
In this video, we’re taking you behind the scenes to show how Axiom Space is designing, building, and testing NASA's new space suits. I am going to put myself and this suit to the test, to give you a sneak peak into what it looks like, what it feels like, and how it could change what humanity can do in space...
Headshot Member
Posts: 1343 From: Vancouver, WA, USA Registered: Feb 2012
posted 05-15-2024 05:27 PM
I usually don't like these kind of "amateurish" videos, but this one was exceptionally good. Great job Cleo!
SkyMan1958 Member
Posts: 1399 From: CA. Registered: Jan 2011
posted 10-16-2024 11:24 PM
Just wondering, will Axiom's financial situation affect its ability to produce the spacesuits, or is the spacesuit insulated/stovepiped from the rest of Axiom's financial issues?
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 53355 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 10-17-2024 12:02 AM
Axiom said on Wednesday (Oct. 17) that it was on track to deliver the Artemis III suits for the mission.
The earlier reports about Axiom's financial status also noted that the company's spacesuit development program was on "better footing" than its other projects.
posted 03-15-2023 08:00 AM
advertisement