Axiom Space Spacesuits Slip to 2031, Threatening NASA's 2028 Moon Landing
Updated
Updated · Bhaskar English · May 14
Axiom Space Spacesuits Slip to 2031, Threatening NASA's 2028 Moon Landing
3 articles · Updated · Bhaskar English · May 14
A U.S. audit report says Axiom Space’s next-generation lunar spacesuits may not be ready until 2031, putting NASA’s planned 2028 Artemis III Moon landing at risk.
Collins Aerospace’s withdrawal left Axiom carrying the full program, slowing testing and development of suits that must work both on the lunar surface and in weightlessness.
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman still says astronauts can land in the new suits by 2028, despite the audit’s later readiness estimate.
The suits are central to Artemis III’s plan to return humans to the Moon’s south pole, with NASA aiming to send the first woman and first person of color to walk there.
With landers and spacesuits delayed, is NASA's 2028 Moon landing goal now an expensive fantasy?
Why is NASA launching astronauts to the Moon without a concrete plan to rescue them if stranded?
Is NASA's strategy of outsourcing critical life support creating an unacceptable risk for its astronauts?
Spacesuit Delays Threaten Artemis IV 2028 Lunar Landing and ISS Retirement: NASA Faces 18-Month Setback and Mounting Risks
Overview
Axiom Space’s development of next-generation spacesuits is facing major delays, with demonstrations for both lunar and microgravity suits slipping by about 18 months from their original schedule. These setbacks now push the target for both suit demonstrations to late 2027, making the timeline for NASA’s Artemis IV lunar landing in 2028 increasingly difficult to achieve. The NASA Office of Inspector General warns that even this revised schedule is fragile, raising concerns about the readiness of critical systems. These delays also complicate the planned retirement of the International Space Station by 2030, highlighting significant risks for NASA’s future missions.