You think that NASA has everything ironed out for its biggest series of missions so far: the Artemis missions, which will eventually send a crew of astronauts to the lunar surface. But as Artemis II prepares to launch and the rocket is prepared for liftoff, NASA is still adapting, though not necessarily for the better.
For example, the Artemis II Orion craft had a potentially dangerous flaw that saw NASA adjust its re-entry trajectory to address it. That flaw was originally discovered during the Artemis I mission, when the craft’s heat shield saw a loss of char. Meanwhile, the new space suits pose another big problem: They will reportedly be heavier and bulkier than those worn during the Apollo missions (called the Armstrong spacesuit). After more than half a century, astronauts will be wearing suits that have taken a step back in the heft department. It may not seem concerning since they will be bouncing around zero gravity, but the former astronauts put that idea to bed. Being on the moon will actually create “extreme physical stress” on the astronauts for several reasons.
Kate Rubins, former astronaut and professor of computational and systems biology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, explains that during a moonwalk, physical stress is elevated. For starters, “people will be changing their sleep,” which means they’ll barely get any rest. In addition, the astronauts will be wearing the suits for up to nine hours and doing EVAs (extravehicular activities or spacewalks) every day. According to Rubins, the spacewalks she did outside the ISS were like running multiple marathons in a row.
Read more: The 10 Most Expensive Space Missions of All Time
Why is spacesuit weight important?
Astronaut on the surface of the moon – Dima Zel/Shutterstock
As Rubin explains, the commercial Axiom suits (also known as the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit, or AxEMU) will create added physical exertion and stress during moonwalks. Not exclusively from the suits, but also the equipment astronauts will be wearing and carrying, such as a heavy life support backpack. The suits weigh more than 300 pounds in Earth’s gravity, although because of the lower gravity – about 1/6 of Earth’s – they are lighter on the lunar surface. They will still be heavier than the original Armstrong suits at 185 pounds. Each astronaut will also have to contend with the weight of their suit, equipment, and body mass collectively. Artemis III will not even have a rover, so the astronauts will be taking all the physical effort on themselves to move equipment, tools, and other equipment.
The AxEMU suits do a lot of things well, according to the official descriptions. They are safer and built for the latest generations, offering a custom fit for everyone. NASA and Artemis astronauts promote the increased mobility that the Axiom suits offer. With much of that improvement thanks to the rear entry design. Astronauts can enter and exit by themselves without assistance. In addition, the suit is designed for planetary or surface walks, which means leg support, more upper mobility, and modular support to bring various tools.
Even so, weight can pose a greater challenge than anyone is expecting. Former astronaut Harrison “Jack” Schmitt, from the Apollo 17 mission, once remarked that he had designed suits to have “four times the mobility, and half the weight.” The AxEMU may have more mobility, but it is also heavier. We’ll soon know how it works, as NASA is already building the Artemis 3 rocket, which will fly behind Artemis II’s orbit around the moon.
Did you enjoy this article? Sign up for BGR’s free newsletter and add us as a preferred search source for the latest technology and entertainment, along with tips and advice you actually use.
Read the original article on BGR.