AxEMU

The AxEMU (Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit) is the commercial suit contracted by NASA under the xEVAS (Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services) program to provide lunar surface EVA capability for the Artemis campaign. With Artemis III re-scoped in 2026 to a crewed low-Earth-orbit HLS docking demonstration, the AxEMU's first lunar surface use is now planned for Artemis IV (~2028) — still the first crewed Moon landing since December 1972. Axiom Space, in partnership with Collins Aerospace (before Collins exited the program in June 2024), developed the suit incorporating technology from NASA's Z-2 and xEMU prototype programs. A notable collaboration with Italian fashion house Prada contributes outer shell materials optimized for lunar south pole extreme cold conditions. The suit features constant-volume elbow and knee joints allowing bending without pressure changes, a full hip/knee/ankle range enabling squatting and kneeling (impossible in Apollo suits), integrated HUD display, and built-in HD cameras. It fits the 5th–95th percentile of the U.S. population. As of mid-2026 the suit has logged 850+ hours of crewed pressurized testing, its Critical Design Review is nearing completion, and Axiom plans an in-space test in 2027. NASA's Office of Inspector General (report IG-26-006, April 2026) flagged the development schedule as a major risk, projecting readiness years later than planned.