NASA’s Artemis Astronauts Just Found Their New Tailors

During missions up to and including Apollo, NASA spacesuits were custom made for each astronaut. However, during the Space Shuttle program — which included hundreds of astronauts — plug-and-play spacesuit components were designed. These hands, torso, legs, and helmet modules came in different sizes to adapt to all astronaut shapes and sizes. According to Texas A&M’s Bonnie Dunbar, plug-and-play suits received some heavy criticism for their lack of flexibility and discomfort. Axiom Space said that the new suits will be designed for a wide range of crew members but did not reveal if they would be modular or one-off pieces.

“The Axiom spacesuits are created to provide increased flexibility and specialized tools to accomplish exploration needs and expand scientific opportunities in space,” the company says. The suits will also include life support, pressure garments, and avionics. The awarding of the spacesuit contract to Axiom can be considered a logical next step in NASA’s immediate low-earth-orbit future.

Axiom Space recently installed its headquarters at the Houston Spaceport. From there they will construct, and eventually deploy, the modules for the first private space station: the Axiom space station. The first modules of the Axiom station will attach to the ISS, to later detach and expand, and consolidate the space station that will replace the ISS.