NASA Cuts Artemis Suit Features for 2028 Moon Landing as Axiom Trails on $594 Million Contract
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Nov 7
NASA Cuts Artemis Suit Features for 2028 Moon Landing as Axiom Trails on $594 Million Contract
3 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Nov 7
Summary
NASA has pared back the first Artemis moon suit into a simpler “sortie suit” after concluding Axiom was not on track to deliver the originally planned version for a 2028 lunar landing.
The revised suit is designed for about 2.5 hours of lunar activity rather than the 6 hours NASA initially sought, leaving Apollo-like core capabilities while the fuller design remains in development.
At least $594 million has already been obligated to Axiom under a contract framework worth more than $3 billion, even as NASA’s inspector general warned in April the company could miss the 2028 deadline.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the agency also shares blame for setting unrealistic requirements, and NASA has embedded personnel and technical support with Axiom to keep the program moving.
The setback adds to broader Artemis schedule risk and could shape the U.S.-China moon race, with China targeting a crewed lunar landing by 2030.
Will NASA's billion-dollar gamble on a simplified spacesuit cost America the lunar race against China?
Can a space startup distracted by fashion collaborations deliver even a downgraded moon suit by 2028?
NASA’s 2028 Artemis Spacesuit Crunch: How Contract Flaws and Schedule Pressure Forced a Stripped-Down Lunar Landing Suit
Overview
Facing urgent schedule pressure and warnings from NASA’s Inspector General, NASA and Axiom Space shifted to a simplified 'sortie suit' design for the 2028 Artemis lunar landing. This move cut suit weight in half, freeing up mass for the lunar lander and focusing on essential astronaut needs. The change was driven by delays and financial issues in NASA’s commercial procurement model, which led to Collins Aerospace exiting and left Axiom as the sole suit provider. As a result, astronauts in 2028 will be limited to short, nearby spacewalks, prioritizing quick science tasks near the lander and highlighting the risks of relying on a single vendor for critical missions.