Gateway’s Power and Propulsion Element is now equipped with its xenon and liquid fuel tanks.
Gateway’s Power and Propulsion Element, which will make the lunar space station the most powerful solar electric spacecraft ever flown, recently received the xenon and liquid fuel tanks for its journey to and around the Moon.
Technicians in Palo Alto, California carefully installed a piece of equipment that will house the tanks. Once fully assembled and launched to lunar orbit, the Power and Propulsion Element’s roll-out solar arrays – together about the size of an American football field endzone – will harness the Sun’s energy to energize xenon gas and produce the thrust to get Gateway to the Moon’s orbit where it will await the arrival of its first crew on the Artemis IV mission.
The Power and Propulsion Element will also carry the European Radiation Sensors Array science experiment provided by ESA (European Space Agency) and JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency), one of three Gateway science experiments that will study solar and cosmic radiation. The little understood phenomenon is a chief concern for humans and hardware journeying to deep-space destinations like Mars and beyond.
The Power and Propulsion Element is managed out of NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio and built by Maxar Space Systems of Palo Alto, California.
It was 55 years ago today that Apollo 12 astronaut Pete Conrad stepped off the ladder of the Intrepid Lunar Module and set foot onto the Moon's surface at Oceanus Procellarum. To mark the occasion, Conrad immediately exclaimed “Whoopee!" This was followed by him commenting, "Man, that may have been a small one for Neil, but that’s a long one for me."
Pete Conrad was one of the shortest astronauts during the early days of America's space program...at a height of 5'6". (Neil Armstrong was 5'11".) Conrad was only one inch taller than me—which would give me hope to become an astronaut if not for a few health issues and the fact that I hated math back in high school and college!
Pete Conrad and his fellow moonwalker Alan Bean spent a total of 7 hours and 45 minutes on the Moon's surface during Apollo 12, with Dick Gordon remaining in lunar orbit aboard the Yankee Clipper Command Module on this mission. Apollo 12 concluded with a successful splashdown in the Pacific Ocean on November 24, 1969.
NASA Prepares for Artemis II Rocket Integration (News Release)
Since the mobile launcher returned in October from Launch Complex 39B to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, work has been underway for upcoming stacking operations of NASA’s SLS(Space Launch System) Moon rocket.
To prepare for launch, the mobile launcher is undergoing optical scans, system checkouts and umbilical refurbishment, including installation of the aft skirt electrical umbilicals.
The booster segments will soon move from the Rotation, Processing and Surge Facility to the VAB via a transporter. The aft assemblies, or bottom portions of the five segment boosters, will be situated in the facility’s transfer aisle and then lifted atop the mobile launcher in High Bay 3.
The examinations and preparations of the mobile launcher and rocket elements lay the groundwork for the Artemis II crewed test flight around the Moon.
NASA Welcomes Denmark as Newest Artemis Accords Signatory (News Release)
Following a signing ceremony on Wednesday in Denmark’s capital city, Copenhagen, NASA embraced Denmark as the 48th nation to commit to the safe and responsible exploration of space that benefits humanity.
“We welcome Denmark’s signing of the Artemis Accords today,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “Denmark, as a founding member of the European Space Agency (ESA), has contributed to space exploration for decades, including collaborating with NASA on Mars exploration. Denmark’s signing of the Artemis Accords will further international cooperation and the peaceful exploration of space.”
Christina Egelund, minister of higher education and science, signed the Artemis Accords on behalf of Denmark. Alan Leventhal, U.S. ambassador to the Kingdom of Denmark also participated in the ceremony, and Nelson contributed recorded remarks.
“With the Artemis program, the United States is leading the way back to the Moon, and Denmark wants to strengthen the strategic partnership with the United States and other partners for the benefit of both science and industry,” said Egelund. “The signing of the Accords is in line with the Danish government’s upcoming strategy for space research and innovation. As part of the strategy, Denmark seeks to strengthen ties with our allies such as the United States. Space holds great potential, and we want – in cooperation with other countries – to advance scientific breakthroughs and influence the development and use of the space sector in the future.”
In 2020, the United States, led by NASA and the U.S. Department of State, and seven other initial signatory nations established the Artemis Accords, identifying a set of principles promoting the beneficial use of space for humanity. The Artemis Accords are grounded in the Outer Space Treaty and other agreements including the Registration Convention, the Rescue and Return Agreement, as well as best practices and norms of responsible behavior that NASA and its partners have supported, including the public release of scientific data.
The commitments to the Artemis Accords and efforts by the signatories to advance implementation of these principles support the safe and sustainable exploration of space.
Artemis II Orion Spacecraft Undergoes Testing (News Release)
Teams lifted NASA’s Orion spacecraft for the Artemis II test flight out of the Final Assembly and System Testing cell and moved it to the altitude chamber to complete further testing on November 6 inside the Neil A. Armstrong Operations and Checkout Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Engineers returned the spacecraft to the altitude chamber, which simulates deep space vacuum conditions, to complete the remaining test requirements and provide additional data to augment data gained during testing earlier this summer.
The Artemis II test flight will be NASA’s first mission with crew under the Artemis campaign, sending NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Reid Wiseman, as well as CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back.
So anyways, I stumbled upon the tweet below where American music artist Olivia Rodrigo considered it a turn-off if men she met on a first date said that they wanted to go to space. She thinks that these guys are "a little too full" of themselves for having this ambition.
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Um, okay. Overlooking the irony that a celebrity is accusing other folks of being too full of themselves, what kind of ridiculousness is it that a guy who wants to be an astronaut would be considered too ambitious for her?
Hypothetically speaking, if Rodrigo met Neil Armstrong on a first date—if he was obviously still alive and around her age today—she wouldn't continue going out with him because he flew to the Moon on Apollo 11, or was about to courtesy of an Artemis mission?
And let's not overlook the fact that Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and a lot of today's NASA astronauts are married with children... So traveling beyond Earth's atmosphere clearly didn't stop these explorers from having normal, earthly lives as well.
Of course, Rodrigo's response may be to billionaires like Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson traveling to space via their respective companies, Blue Origin and Virgin Galactic. And in Elon Musk's case, he wants to spend his inherited fortune and government subsidies to build a rocket—SpaceX's Starship vehicle—that would send people to Mars.
Bezos and Musk don't help the case against Rodrigo; considering that Bezos created a multibillion-dollar online retail company that destroyed countless numbers of mom-and-pop stores and major businesses like Sears, Borders and Toys 'R' Us, while Musk spent $44 billion on buying Twitter so that he could turn it into a right-wing propaganda tool used in an attempt to get Donald Trump re-elected tomorrow.
So yea, it disappoints me greatly that Olivia Rodrigo would look down on guys who are passionate about space exploration...but uberwealthy white folks like Bezos and Musk are giving her a reason to adopt such an attitude towards men wanting to venture to the Kármán line and beyond. Very unfortunate.
Olivia Rodrigo reveals that a guy wanting to go to space is a red flag for her:
“This is a very oddly specific question that I ask guys on first dates. I always ask them if they think that they would want to go to space. And if they say yes, I don’t date them. I just think if… pic.twitter.com/JdVhYBNMKz
Happy Halloween, everyone! Just thought I'd end this month with these two screenshots that were taken from a video filmed during the Polaris Dawn mission two months ago.
Thanks to My Face in Space, an online campaign where people were invited to submit photos of themselves to fly on SpaceX's Crew Dragon Resilience capsule last September (with the proceeds going to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital), I got to see a selfie that I sent months ago float around inside the cabin of Resilience with Earth shining brightly outside the window!
I've flown my name on dozens of space missions since 1996, but to actually see myself virtually floating beyond Earth's atmosphere? Absolutely surreal.
I've also included the certificate that My Face in Space sent me after the Polaris Dawn mission had concluded on September 15. Check out the YouTube video below to see the photos that other participants included on this flight!
NASA Provides Update on Artemis III Moon Landing Regions (News Release)
As NASA prepares for the first crewed Moon landing in more than five decades, the agency has identified an updated set of nine potential landing regions near the lunar South Pole for its Artemis III mission. These areas will be further investigated through scientific and engineering study. NASA will continue to survey potential areas for missions following Artemis III, including areas beyond these nine regions.
“Artemis will return humanity to the Moon and visit unexplored areas. NASA’s selection of these regions shows our commitment to landing crew safely near the lunar South Pole, where they will help uncover new scientific discoveries and learn to live on the lunar surface,” said Lakiesha Hawkins, assistant deputy associate administrator, Moon to Mars Program Office.
NASA’s Cross Agency Site Selection Analysis team, working closely with science and industry partners, added, and excluded potential landing regions, which were assessed for their science value and mission availability.
The refined candidate Artemis III lunar landing regions are, in no priority order:
- Peak near Cabeus B
- Haworth
- Malapert Massif
- Mons Mouton Plateau
- Mons Mouton
- Nobile Rim 1
- Nobile Rim 2
- de Gerlache Rim 2
- Slater Plain
These regions contain diverse geological characteristics and offer flexibility for mission availability. The lunar South Pole has never been explored by a crewed mission and contains permanently shadowed areas that can preserve resources, including water.
“The Moon’s South Pole is a completely different environment than where we landed during the Apollo missions,” said Sarah Noble, Artemis lunar science lead at NASA Headquarters in Washington. “It offers access to some of the Moon’s oldest terrain, as well as cold, shadowed regions that may contain water and other compounds. Any of these landing regions will enable us to do amazing science and make new discoveries.”
To select these landing regions, a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers analyzed the lunar South Pole region using data from NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and a vast body of lunar science research. Factors in the selection process included science potential, launch window availability, terrain suitability, communication capabilities with Earth, and lighting conditions. Additionally, the team assessed the combined trajectory capabilities of NASA’s SLS(Space Launch System) rocket, the Orion spacecraft and Starship HLS(Human Landing System) to ensure safe and accessible landing sites.
The Artemis III geology team evaluated the landing regions for their scientific promise. Sites within each of the nine identified regions have the potential to provide key new insights into our understanding of rocky planets, lunar resources and the history of our Solar System.
“Artemis III will be the first time that astronauts will land in the south polar region of the Moon. They will be flying on a new lander into a terrain that is unique from our past Apollo experience,” said Jacob Bleacher, NASA’s chief exploration scientist. “Finding the right locations for this historic moment begins with identifying safe places for this first landing, and then trying to match that with opportunities for science from this new place on the Moon.”
NASA’s site assessment team will engage the lunar science community through conferences and workshops to gather data, build geologic maps and assess the regional geology of eventual landing sites. The team will also continue surveying the entire lunar South Pole region for science value and mission availability for future Artemis missions. This will include planning for expanded science opportunities during Artemis IV, and suitability for the LTV(Lunar Terrain Vehicle) as part of Artemis V.
The agency will select sites within regions for Artemis III after it identifies the mission’s target launch dates, which dictate transfer trajectories, or orbital paths, and surface environment conditions.
Under NASA’s Artemis campaign, the agency will establish the foundation for long-term scientific exploration at the Moon, land the first woman, first person of color and its first international partner astronaut on the lunar surface, and prepare for human expeditions to Mars for the benefit of all.
Artemis II Astronauts Put Orion’s Side Hatch to the Test (News Release - October 23)
Artemis II NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Reid Wiseman, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen recently traveled to Lockheed Martin Space in Littleton, Colorado, where they practiced opening and closing an Orion crew module side hatch model to help demonstrate its reliability and durability during their 10-day mission around the Moon.
During normal mission operations, the crew will not operate the hatches – the ground systems team at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida will assist the crew into Orion at the launch pad, then close the hatch behind them prior to liftoff. After splashdown in the Pacific Ocean, recovery teams will open Orion's side hatch and help the crew to exit.
Back-up crew members Andre Douglas of NASA and Jenni Gibbons of CSA also trained on hatch operations, which help ensure that the crew can safely enter and exit the spacecraft in the event of an emergency. The side hatch is normally opened using a manual gearbox system, but in an emergency, the hatch has release mechanisms containing small pyrotechnic (explosive) devices that release the latch pins on the hatch instantaneously, allowing the hatch to open quickly.
Under NASA’s Artemis campaign, the agency will establish the foundation for long-term scientific exploration at the Moon, land the first woman, first person of color and its first international partner astronaut on the lunar surface, and prepare for human expeditions to Mars for the benefit of all.
NASA Welcomes Chile as Newest Artemis Accords Signatory (News Release)
Chile signed the Artemis Accords on Friday during a ceremony hosted by NASA Administrator Bill Nelson at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, becoming the 47th nation and the seventh South American country to commit to the responsible exploration of space for all humanity.
“Today we welcome Chile’s signing of the Artemis Accords and its commitment to the shared values of all the signatories for the exploration of space,” said Nelson. “The United States has long studied the stars from Chile’s great Atacama Desert. Now we will go to the stars together, safely and responsibly, and create new opportunities for international cooperation and the Artemis Generation.”
“The signing marks a significant milestone for Chile, particularly as our government is committed to advancing technological development as a key pillar of our national strategy,” said Etcheverry. “Chile has the opportunity to engage in the design and development of world-leading scientific and technological projects. Moreover, this collaboration allows us to contribute to areas of scientific excellence where Chile has distinguished expertise, such as astrobiology, geology and mineralogy, all of which are critical for the exploration and colonization of space.”
Earlier in the day, Nelson also hosted the Dominican Republic at NASA Headquarters to recognize the country’s signing of the Artemis Accords on October 4. Sonia Guzmán, ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the United States, delivered the signed Artemis Accords to the NASA administrator. Mike Overby, acting deputy assistant secretary, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, U.S. Department of State, and other NASA officials attended the event.
In 2020, the United States, led by NASA and the U.S. Department of State, and seven other initial signatory nations established the Artemis Accords, identifying an early set of principles promoting the beneficial use of space for humanity. The Artemis Accords are grounded in the Outer Space Treaty and other agreements including the Registration Convention, the Rescue and Return Agreement, as well as best practices and norms of responsible behavior that NASA and its partners have supported, including the public release of scientific data.
The commitments of the Artemis Accords and efforts by the signatories to advance implementation of these principles support the safe and sustainable exploration of space. More countries are expected to sign in the coming weeks and months.
NASA Welcomes Republic of Cyprus as 46th Artemis Accords Signatory (News Release - October 23)
NASA Associate Administrator Jim Free welcomed the Republic of Cyprus as the latest nation to commit to the responsible use of space for humanity on Wednesday, marking 46 signatories to date.
“We applaud Cyprus’ commitment to the Artemis Accords, which will enhance the country’s engagement with NASA and the international community,” said Free, who participated virtually. “By joining 45 other country signatories in this effort, Cyprus will help play a role in implementing the accords and exploration that is open, responsible, transparent and peaceful for the benefit of all.”
Nicodemos Damianou, Cyprus’ deputy minister of research, innovation and digital policy, signed the Artemis Accords during a ceremony in Nicosia, Cyprus. James O’Brien, assistant secretary for European and Eurasian Affairs for the U.S. Department of State, also attended the event.
“Today marks a significant milestone for Cyprus as we officially sign the Artemis Accords,” said Damianou. “As we embark on this exciting journey, we reaffirm our commitment to a safe and responsible space exploration, as well as our strong belief in the importance of international cooperation in ensuring space is utilized to the benefit of all humanity. Cyprus, a European Union member state, is capitalizing on its geostrategic location between three continents, and aspires to play an integral role in the international space community.”
The signing with Cyprus comes on the heels of an Artemis Accords meeting in Milan earlier this month with dozens of signatory countries, including the United States.
In 2020, NASA, in coordination with the U.S. Department of State and seven other initial signatory nations, established the Artemis Accords, which identified an early set of principles promoting the beneficial use of space for humanity. The Artemis Accords are grounded in the Outer Space Treaty and other agreements including the Registration Convention, the Rescue and Return Agreement, as well as best practices and norms of responsible behavior that NASA and its partners have supported, including the public release of scientific data.
The commitments of the Artemis Accords and efforts by the signatories to advance implementation of these principles support the safe and sustainable exploration of space. More countries are expected to sign in the coming days and weeks ahead.
Blue Origin Completes 27th Mission; Debuts New Human-Rated Vehicle (News Release)
Today, Blue Origin’s 27th mission debuted the second human-rated vehicle for the New Shepard program, enabling expanded flight capacity to better meet growing customer demand.
“We look forward to welcoming crew onboard RSS Kármán Line soon and offering the New Shepard flight experience to people across the world from all backgrounds,” said Phil Joyce, SVP, New Shepard. “On every New Shepard mission, we’ve witnessed people return to Earth changed by this experience, and with a renewed sense of commitment to preserve our planet.”
The flight carried five payloads on the booster and seven inside the crew capsule, including tens of thousands of postcards flying as part of Club for the Future’sPostcards to Space program. Each postcard will be returned to its creator stamped “Flown to Space.” Digital postcards can be submitted here.
If you’re interested in purchasing an astronaut seat on New Shepard, please visit here. For payload inquiries, go here.
A full replay of today’s flight is available below.
Vast Announces Haven-2, Its Proposed Space Station Designed to Succeed the International Space Station (Press Release - October 14)
Future Space Station’s Advanced Capabilities Projected to Surpass the ISS at an Unprecedented Low Cost to Government and Commercial Customers
During the 75th International Astronautical Congress (IAC), Vast, the U.S.-based space habitation technology company, unveiled Haven-2 — the proposed successor to the International Space Station (ISS) and the next step in the company’s vision to pioneer a path to long-term living and thriving in space.
With the planned retirement of the International Space Station (ISS) by 2030, NASA conceived the Commercial LEO Destination (CLD) program and is expected to select its Phase 2 winner(s) in mid-2026. Laser-focused on securing this prestigious contract to build the successor to the ISS, Vast has developed Haven-2, designed to offer the most compelling solution to ensure continued U.S. and international partner presence in low-Earth orbit (LEO).
“Our focus this decade is to win the NASA Commercial LEO Destination (CLD) contract and build the successor to the International Space Station,” said Max Haot, Vast CEO. “To achieve this, we will first demonstrate our capability by building and operating the world’s first commercial space station, Haven-1, which is set to launch in 2025.”
Haven-2: The Future of Commercial Space Stations
If selected in 2026, Vast plans to have the first module of Haven-2, an evolved and NASA-certified version of Haven-1, fully operational in orbit by 2028. This near-term timeline is made possible by leveraging Vast's significant private investment in the design, build, launch and operation of Haven-1. The first Haven-2 Module will be 5 meters longer than Haven-1, offering nearly twice the livable volume of its predecessor while utilizing all the same proven systems.
Vast’s demonstrated progress with Haven-1, combined with architecture based on this proven heritage, positions the company as the best choice to safeguard U.S. and international partner interests in space.
Scalable, Cost-Efficient Expansion of Haven-2
Following the deployment of the first Haven-2 module, Vast plans to build and launch three additional modules over a two-year period. These modules will adhere to the same efficient and cost-effective design template, further expanding the station's usable volume, enhancing available facilities, and efficiently delivering additional critical life support systems and consumables.
With each successive Haven-2 module delivery, Vast will introduce more advanced and efficient life support technologies. Each subsequent module will feature expanded payload facilities while maintaining the same fundamental module design and heritage.
Andrew Feustel, a Vast advisor and veteran NASA astronaut with over 23 years of experience and three missions to the ISS, provided input into the features of the station design, noting that the potential for international collaboration is continued into the station’s architecture: “Haven-2 is being designed with compatibility in mind, ensuring that international partners can integrate seamlessly into this next-generation platform. This vision of global cooperation in space will create opportunities for scientific and technological advancements, benefiting new and current sovereign partners as well as industries around the world.”
Haven-2 features the Haven-2 Lab, which offers state-of-the-art laboratory facilities to support a wide range of microgravity research and in-space manufacturing. With more volume and power capacity than its predecessor, Haven-1, the Haven-2 Lab accommodates larger payloads and laboratory equipment, provides extensive integration options for experiments and specialized equipment, and increases operational flexibility while ensuring ample power and thermal control for high-demand projects.
Additionally, the Haven-2 Lab meets all of NASA’s Basic Laboratory Capabilities for the CLD program, aligning with the highest standards for orbital research facility readiness.
To foster international collaboration, the Haven-2 Lab also offers the option to dedicate an entire module or a specific laboratory facility to international partners, creating opportunities for global participation in microgravity research.
2030 and Beyond: Full Capability of Haven-2 Realized
Between 2030 and 2032, Vast will add a larger 7-meter diameter core module and four more Haven-2 modules, fully realizing the next-generation commercial space station capable of meeting the needs of international partners, NASA, commercial researchers & manufacturers, and private astronauts.
Key features of the completed station include an unprecedented 3.8-meter diameter cupola window, external payload hosting capabilities, a robotic arm, visiting vehicle berthing capabilities, external payload airlock, and an extravehicular activity (EVA) airlock to support customers' needs. Each module will also feature two Haven-1-like 1.1-meter dome windows, totaling 16 windows by 2032.
Vast’s design is projected to surpass all other proposed on-orbit space stations in terms of volume, functionality and operational efficiency. With unparalleled capabilities, Haven-2 will be the benchmark for next-generation space stations, ensuring that the U.S. and its international partners continue to lead and foster the LEO economy.
Earlier this week, Vast unveiled its final Haven-1 design — introducing never-before-seen features to support productivity and microgravity lab advancements. Haven-2 will iterate upon this visionary design philosophy.
At the International Astronautical Congress in Milan, Italy, Axiom Space and Prada revealed for the first time today the flight design of the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) spacesuit that will be used for NASA’s Artemis III mission.
The outer-layer design and materials work was jointly developed starting when the two industry leaders came together, blending creativity and engineering to enhance the next-generation spacesuit design.
“Our elite teams have redefined spacesuit development, establishing new pathways to innovative solutions and applying a state-of-the-art design approach for the AxEMU,” said Matt Ondler, Axiom Space President. “We have broken the mold. The Axiom Space-Prada partnership has set a new foundational model for cross-industry collaboration, further expanding what’s possible in commercial space.”
During development, Axiom Space used a dark cover layer for display purposes only to conceal the suit’s proprietary technology. However, the spacesuit worn on the lunar surface will be made from a white material that reflects heat and protects astronauts from extreme high temperatures and lunar dust.
Lorenzo Bertelli, Prada Group Chief Marketing Officer and Head of Corporate Social Responsibility said, “Going beyond our limits is one of the company’s values that perfectly reflects the spirit of the Prada brand and my parents’ vision. I’m very proud of the result we’re showing today, which is just the first step in a long-term collaboration with Axiom Space. We’ve shared our expertise on high-performance materials, features and sewing techniques, and we learned a lot. I’m sure we’ll continue to explore new challenges, broaden our horizons, and build new scenarios together.”
Prada’s in-depth knowledge and experience on materials and production processes supported innovative work in addition to the spacesuit cover layer. Prada’s design and product development team worked alongside Axiom Space engineers on customized material recommendations and features that would both protect astronauts against the unique challenges of the lunar environment and visually inspire future space exploration.
Prada’s expertise enabled advanced technologies and innovative sewing methods to bridge the gap between highly-engineered functionality and an aesthetically-appealing white outer layer, providing astronauts with an increased level of comfort while improving the materials’ performance.
The AxEMU program epitomizes how the commercial space industry is enabling non-traditional partnerships to enhance space exploration capabilities. Since being awarded its first Artemis task order in 2022, valued at $228 million, Axiom Space has capitalized on the public-private agreement with NASA, seeking out renowned experts in diverse industries to aid in developing and designing this next-generation spacesuit.
“We are pioneering a new era in space exploration where partnerships are imperative to the commercialization of space,” said Russell Ralston, Executive Vice President of Extravehicular Activity, Axiom Space. “Partnerships build a strong, cohesive team, enabling industry experts to provide cutting-edge technology, specialized products and services to drive innovation. For the first time, we are leveraging expertise in other industries to craft a better solution for space.”
AxEMU Development
Advancing NASA’s Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) spacesuit design, the AxEMU provides increased flexibility, performance and safety, as well as specialized tools to aid in exploring the lunar south pole. The suit accommodates a wide range of crewmembers, including males and females from the first to 99th percentile (anthropomorphic sizing).
The AxEMU will withstand extreme temperatures at the lunar south pole and endure the coldest temperatures in the permanently shadowed regions for at least two hours. Astronauts will be able to perform spacewalks for at least eight hours.
The AxEMU incorporates multiple redundant systems and an onboard diagnostic system to ensure safety for crewmembers. The suit also uses a regenerable carbon dioxide scrubbing system and a robust cooling technology to remove heat from the system.
The AxEMU includes advanced coatings on the helmet and visor to enhance the astronauts’ view of their surroundings, as well as custom gloves made in-house featuring several advancements over the gloves used today. The spacesuit architecture includes life support systems, pressure garments, avionics and other innovative systems to meet exploration needs and expand scientific opportunities.
Axiom Space developed the AxEMU using a single, foundational architecture. The architecture is evolvable, scalable and adaptable for missions on the lunar surface and in low-Earth orbit (LEO).
Axiom Space has iteratively improved this next-gen spacesuit over the past two years to support the Artemis III mission. The AxEMU has undergone extensive testing and simulations with a wide range of astronauts and engineers at state-of-the-art Axiom Space, SpaceX and NASA facilities.
Testing was conducted underwater to simulate the lunar environment with an unoccupied spacesuit at NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) and reduced gravity simulations at NASA’s Johnson Space Center.
The AxEMU suit is nearing the final developmental stage. It completed a successful pressurized simulation with Artemis III partners – NASA, SpaceX, and Axiom Space – marking the first test of its kind since the Apollo era.
The AxEMU will continue to undergo testing including crewed underwater tests at the NBL facility, integrated tests with the Artemis Lunar Terrain Vehicle prototypes, and will enter the critical design review phase in 2025.
Gateway Refuelling Module Gets a Boost (News Release - October 14)
ESA and Thales Alenia Space have signed a contract amendment today at the International Astronautical Congress in Milan to extend the Lunar View refuelling module for the lunar Gateway.
The amendment concerns ESA’s Lunar View, a crucial element for the Gateway which will supply the lunar station with xenon and chemical propellants to extend its lifetime, as well as provide a pressurised volume with six large windows, where astronauts will be able to store cargo and supplies and enjoy a 360° view of the outside of Gateway and the Moon.
As a result of NASA’s choice to launch Lunar View aboard the larger and more powerful version of the SLS launcher, ESA and Thales Alenia Space have agreed to significantly increase the size of Lunar View, which will now span 4.6 metres wide and be 6.4 metres long, with a total mass of 10 metric tonnes (versus the initial measurements of 3.4 metres wide, 3 metres long and 6 metric tonnes). This increase will allow:
- more storage space to accommodate up to 1.5 tonnes of cargo at launch, reducing resupply flights to the lunar outpost
- installation of two attachment points on Lunar View to accommodate the Canadian Space Agency’s robotic arm Canadarm3
- housing the avionics suite equipment inside the module for easier maintenance
ESA selected Thales Alenia Space in France as the main contractor to develop the module, which is in the preliminary design phase until next year, after which a detailed design phase will occur followed by manufacturing. Initially, the pressurised structure of the module will be built in Turin by Thales Alenia Space, with contributions also from Thales Alenia Space in the United Kingdom and OHB.
Once built, the module will be tested before delivery to NASA ahead of its launch.
The Artemis V mission will bring Lunar View to the Gateway, propelled towards the station by the Orion spacecraft and its powerhouse, the European Service Module. There, it will meet ESA’s Lunar I-Hab as well as NASA’s power and propulsion module PPE and habitation module HALO, on which ESA’s Lunar Link will be attached.
NASA Welcomes Estonia as Newest Artemis Accords Signatory (News Release - October 13)
While in Milan for international meetings, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson was among the witnesses as Estonia signed the Artemis Accords and became the 45th nation to join the United States and other signatories agreeing to the safe, transparent and responsible exploration of the Moon, Mars and beyond.
The signing ceremony took place ahead of Italy hosting the 75th International Astronautical Congress beginning on Monday, October 14, where government and space officials from signatory countries will discuss advancing implementation of the Artemis Accords, among other topics.
“We welcome Estonia’s signing of the Artemis Accords, which will open the door for more international collaboration,” said Nelson. “This decision also strengthens our family of nations, united by a common cause, and builds on our commitment to explore space for the benefit of humanity under the sound principles of the accords.”
Erkki Keldo, Estonia’s minister of economy and industry, signed the Artemis Accords. Rahima Kandahari, deputy assistant secretary for the U.S. State Department and Lisa Campbell, CSA (Canadian Space Agency) president, also participated in the event.
“Estonia is well-known as the leading country in e-governance, and it is a great honor for us to enter a next level in space exploration,” said Keldo. “We are more than interested to share our knowledge with the global space community to make future collaboration in space exploration a success for humankind. I am sure that joining the Artemis Accords will open attractive opportunities to Estonian enterprises too, to share their valuable knowledge and competences.”
In 2020, the United States and seven other nations were the first to sign the Artemis Accords, which identified an early set of principles promoting the beneficial use of space for humanity. The accords are grounded in the Outer Space Treaty and other agreements including the Registration Convention, the Rescue and Return Agreement, as well as best practices and norms of responsible behavior that NASA and its partners have supported, including the public release of scientific data.
The commitments of the Artemis Accords and efforts by the signatories to advance implementation of these principles support the safe and sustainable exploration of space. More countries are expected to sign in the coming weeks and months.
Early this morning, SpaceX began a new era of rocket reusability when its Starship Super Heavy vehicle—launching on Integrated Flight Test 5(IFT-5)—successfully lifted off from Starbase in Texas...with Booster 12 flawlessly returning to Starbase's first Orbital Launch Tower and being grappled by the structure's mechazilla arms seven minutes later.
IFT-5 completely went off without a hitch following liftoff at 7:25 AM, Central Time (12:25 PM, UTC), with Booster 12 ready to be examined on the ground by engineers to see how its systems fared during the flight (and most likely get prepped for a second launch in the future). Ship 30 successfully reached its target landing zone in the Indian Ocean and splashed down over an hour after liftoff...before exploding minutes after impact. Ship 30 was never intended to be recovered by SpaceX after IFT-5.
With this fifth flight test triumphantly in the books, it remains to be seen when IFT-6 will occur. The Federal Aviation Administration granted SpaceX approval to conduct a sixth test whenever it wanted assuming that Ship 30 and Booster 12 performed as expected today. And performed as expected they did!
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SpaceX
SpaceX
Splashdown confirmed! Congratulations to the entire SpaceX team on an exciting fifth flight test of Starship! pic.twitter.com/FhCGznq9RO
NASA Welcomes Dominican Republic as 44th Artemis Accords Signatory (News Release)
The Dominican Republic is the latest nation to sign the Artemis Accords and joins 43 other countries in a commitment to advancing principles for the safe, transparent and responsible exploration of the Moon, Mars and beyond with NASA.
“NASA is proud to welcome the Dominican Republic signing of the Artemis Accords as we expand the peaceful exploration of space to all nations,” said NASA Administrator Bill Nelson. “The Dominican Republic has made important strides toward a shared future in space and is now helping guide space exploration for the Artemis Generation.”
Sonia Guzmán, ambassador of the Dominican Republic to the United States, signed the Artemis Accords on behalf of the country on October 4. The country will also confirm its participation in a high-level meeting of Artemis Accords signatories taking place next Monday, October 14, during the International Astronautical Congress in Milan, where furthering implementation of the principles will be discussed.
“This marks a historic step in our commitment to international collaboration in space exploration,” said Guzmán. “This is not just a scientific or technological milestone – it represents a future where the Dominican Republic contributes to the shared goals of peace, sustainability and innovation beyond our planet. By joining the global effort to explore the Moon, Mars and beyond, we are also expanding the opportunities particularly for our young Dominicans in science, education and economic development.”
In 2020, the United States and seven other nations were the first to sign the Artemis Accords, which identified an early set of principles promoting the beneficial use of space for humanity. The accords are grounded in the Outer Space Treaty and other agreements including the Registration Convention, the Rescue and Return Agreement, as well as best practices and norms of responsible behavior that NASA and its partners have supported, including the public release of scientific data.
The commitments of the Artemis Accords and efforts by the signatories to advance implementation of these principles support the safe and sustainable exploration of space. More countries are expected to sign in the coming weeks and months.
NASA’s Mobile Launcher Back at Vehicle Assembly Building (News Release - October 4)
After spending several months undergoing integrated testing and upgrades at Launch Complex 39B at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the agency’s Mobile Launcher 1 is now inside the Vehicle Assembly Building in preparation for integration of the Artemis II Moon rocket.
The 4.2-mile trek from Launch Complex 39B to the Vehicle Assembly Building along the crawlerway normally takes eight to 12 hours atop NASA’s Crawler-Transporter 2, though teams paused the roll operations several times as planned to ensure that the operation teams had scheduled breaks and rest. The operation resumed at 1:41 a.m. EDT on Friday, October 4.
Standing 380 feet tall, the mobile launcher – which will be used to assemble, process and launch the SLS(Space Launch System) rocket and Orion spacecraft – contains all the connection lines – known as umbilicals – and ground support equipment that will provide the rocket and spacecraft with the power, communications, fuel and coolant necessary for launch. This will be the mobile launcher’s last solo trek out to the launch pad ahead of integration of the Artemis Moon rocket, and it will remain inside the Vehicle Assembly Building until it is ready to return to the pad with the rocket for a tanking test.
The Artemis II test flight will be NASA’s first mission with crew under the Artemis campaign, sending NASA astronauts Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Reid Wiseman, as well as CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen, on a 10-day journey around the Moon and back.
Earlier today, I drove down to the California Science Center near downtown Los Angeles to check out the latest construction status on the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center...and needless to say, the permanent home of the orbiter Endeavour is lookin' good!
Endeavour's Space Shuttle Stack is no longer visible from outdoors—as the vehicle is completely covered up by scaffolding and white tarps for temporary protection while the Samuel Oschin Shuttle Gallery's rooftop, known as a diagrid structure, continues to take shape above NASA's youngest retired orbiter. When finished, the diagrid will rise nearly 200 feet into the sky...making it almost as tall as the Coit Tower in San Francisco!
Construction on the Air and Space Center looks to be completed by early next year. After that, scores of aerospace artifacts (such as thisCassini replica that was donated by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory 19 miles from the California Science Center) will commence being installed inside the new museum wing.
But of course, it's Endeavour—inside the Samuel Oschin Shuttle Gallery—that I'm most excited to see once this latest addition to the Science Center opens within the next year or so. Happy Birthday to me! Yes, it was today.
