NASA and its spacesuit provider Axiom Space have revealed what the astronauts on the Artemis III mission will wear if, as planned, they reach the surface of the Moon in 2025.

Here it is in all its glory … kinda. More on that below the picture.

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Artemis III spacesuit – Click to enlarge

Here's the thing: you're not actually looking at a spacesuit up there.

That's an "Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit" thank you very much. Or an AxEMU if you really must have an acronym. NASA must always have an acronym.

Scientifically literate Reg readers will doubtless have noticed that the AxEMU is an unusual color for something that will receive a full unfiltered-by-atmosphere blast of solar radiation. What with dark hues absorbing heat and lighter tones reflecting it.

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Axiom Space acknowledged that by admitting "a spacesuit worn on the Moon must be white to reflect heat and protect astronauts from extreme high temperatures."

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The chic gray and orange look depicted above is therefore "a cover layer … used for display purposes only to conceal the suit's proprietary design."

Not just any old cover layer, mind you, but one developed by "costume designer Esther Marquis from the Apple TV+ series, For All Mankind ."

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Maybe that origin story means it should be the "iAxEMU".

Copy Editor's note: No, Simon, it should not.

Or maybe it should be called an homage to the playing uniforms of Australian Rules football team the Greater Western Sydney Giants.

We’re getting closer… [6]#BigBigSound [7]pic.twitter.com/W6KqiSwCOK — GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) [8]March 8, 2023

The need for secrecy that necessitated developing the cover means NASA and Axiom Space haven't offered many details of the actual suit, beyond assurances that the wearable provides "increased flexibility, greater protection to withstand the harsh environment and specialized tools to accomplish exploration needs and expand scientific opportunities." It also packs "innovative technologies [that] will enable exploration of more of the lunar surface than ever before."

The AxEMU has also been designed "to fit a broad range of crew members, accommodating at least 90 percent of the US male and female population."

Not all at once, presumably. ®

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[1] https://regmedia.co.uk/2023/03/16/supplied_artermis_3_spacesuit.jpg

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[6] https://twitter.com/hashtag/BigBigSound?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

[7] https://t.co/W6KqiSwCOK

[8] https://twitter.com/GWSGIANTS/status/1633313082519994368?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

[9] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/