NASA Requires Development of Gloves and Boots Resistant to Extreme Cold Lunar Temperatures
Getting Earth's Best and Brightest Prepared for the Lunar Chill
As NASA readies for its Artemis 3 mission to the cold, dark depths of the Moon's south pole, engineers are working tirelessly to ensure that astronauts stay cozy amidst the extreme temperatures. With some areas reaching a mind-numbing -243 degrees Celsius, thermal protection is a must for any lunar voyage.
The New Age of Lunar Fashion
NASA is partnering with Axiom Space to create the moon's freshest attire: the state-of-the-art AxEMU, or Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit. These suits aim to provide a perfect blend of fashion and function, keeping astronauts warm, mobile, and safe while exploring the Moon's surface. In the spirit of collaboration, Axiom Space enlisted Prada's design expertise and fabrics to elevate the style of the lunar collection.
CITADEL: The Coldest Meeting Room in Town
To test these spiffy new spacesuits, NASA is relying on its very own ice chamber named CITADEL, housed at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. This frosty facility can cool objects to frigid temperatures of -213 degrees Celsius (-352 degrees Fahrenheit), making it the perfect place to simulate the lunar environment and ensure that the astronauts' suits can withstand the icy blast.
The Freezer: A Fashion Critic's Dream
CITADEL's testing process brings the spacious oneness of a cryogenic freezer to a whole new level. Each suit component is put to the test in this sub-arctic workspace. Recent results revealed that the current suit's gloves, which have been in use since the 80s, would not make the cut for the cold, unforgiving lunar south pole. The testing team is still analyzing the data on the boots, but they're confident that the boots will be better equipped to handle the extreme temperatures.
The Lunar Catwalk
As NASA's Artemis 3 mission approaches, set to launch in 2027, engineers will use CITADEL's findings to develop criteria for the next-generation AxEMU spacesuits. This info is crucial for determining the limits of the current hardware and evaluating future suit designs. Let's hope these fashion-conscious astronauts can strut their stuff on the lunar catwalk without a thermostat malfunction or two-hour-long fashion emergency!
- NASA's partnership with Axiom Space, through the creation of the AxEMU, is set to revolutionize lunar fashion by combining technology and style for astronauts' space suits.
- In preparation for the lunar mission, NASA uses the CITADEL ice chamber at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory to test the spacesuits' thermal protection capabilities, simulating the extreme temperatures of the Moon's south pole.
- For the upcoming Artemis 3 mission, the results from CITADEL's testing will help engineers design the next-generation AxEMU, ensuring the lunar astronauts can be both stylish and safe as they explore the Moon's surface.
- Gizmodo and health-and-wellness enthusiasts bearing an interest in space and astronomy will be eagerly awaiting the debut of these innovative lunar spacesuits on the notable lunar catwalk of the future.
