Designation: xEMU (Collins)
The cancelled next-gen ISS EVA suit — Collins Aerospace won the NASA contract but withdrew in 2024, leaving Axiom as sole commercial EVA suit provider.
Collins Aerospace won Task Order 1 of NASA's xEVAS (Exploration EVA Services) contract in 2022, valued at $97.2 million, to develop next-generation EVA suits for ISS operations. The Collins xEMU was descended from NASA's in-house Z-series prototype program (Z-1, Z-2, Z-2.5, and xEMU) which had invested hundreds of millions in new suit architecture. The design targeted improved shoulder mobility over the legacy EMU, suitport entry compatibility, and enhanced dust mitigation for lunar environments. However, Collins Aerospace announced its exit from the xEVAS contract on June 26, 2024, citing program economics and restructured priorities. The withdrawal left Axiom Space as the sole active commercial spacesuit provider under NASA's xEVAS contract, significantly reducing competition in the emerging commercial spacesuit market.
Never flew — contract cancelled June 2024 before reaching ISS demonstration