NASA has requested that two of its commercial partners, Axiom Space and Collins Aerospace, develop alternative spacesuit designs for different purposes than initially planned.

The intention behind this request is to have backup options available in case any issues arise in the future.

In an announcement on Monday, NASA revealed that task orders worth $5 million each were awarded to Axiom Space and Collins Aerospace under their existing contracts, Gizmodo reported.

Axiom Space will focus on modifying its spacesuit design to be suitable for use in low Earth orbit, while Collins Aerospace will work on a spacesuit specifically designed for astronauts on the surface of the Moon.

Both companies were initially awarded spacesuit contracts by NASA in June 2022.

These contracts were aimed at developing astronaut attire for the International Space Station and the Artemis missions to the Moon.

Axiom Space had previously unveiled its next-generation spacesuit under its initial $228.5 million contract, intended for use by Artemis astronauts on the lunar surface.

Collins Aerospace, on the other hand, is still working on its own spacesuit design for astronauts operating in the microgravity environment outside the space station, as part of its $97.2 million contract.

Written by staff