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NASA sees Axiom’s lunar suits for Artemis under scrutiny from the Inspector General and xEMU’s history, while the company claims technical advancement and demonstration delivery in 2027.
NASA has once again entered the center of a sensitive dispute within the Artemis program: lunar suits. A report from the Inspector General’s office, which audits and exposes issues typically kept from the public, analyzed the contract linked to the suits Axiom Space is developing to take astronauts back to the Moon’s surface.
The warning is based on NASA’s own recent history, which has been trying to advance new suits since 2007 and has accumulated failures. The most emblematic case cited is the xEMU, developed between 2016 and 2022, which consumed over US$1 billion and did not result in a flight-ready solution. Now, even with the shift to private initiative, the document raises the risk of delays, while Axiom responds that it already has 950 hours of crewed pressurization tests and aims for a demonstration delivery in 2027.
What NASA’s Inspector General’s report saw and why it became a risk signal
The Inspector General’s audit primarily looks at contract execution and schedule risk. The report’s interpretation, based on what was presented, is that, based on previous experiences and a history of delays, the project might only be ready by 2031, while the program’s goal is to support a return to the Moon in 2028.
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The central point is that the document does not necessarily state that Axiom is already delayed to this extent, but uses NASA’s previous projects as a benchmark to suggest that the deadline could slip. Furthermore, the report criticizes aspects of the contracting model, discussing the limits of fixed-price contracts and recalling how cost-plus contracts, used in the past, can disincentivize cost reduction and efficiency.
Why NASA abandoned xEMU after spending over US$1 billion
Recent history weighs heavily on the discussion. NASA has attempted to develop several suits since 2007 and, as reported, failed to complete any. The xEMU, which was the most recent bet, faced technical problems, such as stitching difficulties and failures at different points in the system, accumulating delays until it was abandoned.
The Inspector General himself had previously criticized this project. The practical consequence was a change in strategy: instead of insisting on internal development, NASA began seeking a solution from the private sector to accelerate and unlock lunar spacewalk capabilities in the Artemis program.
The bet on the private sector: Axiom enters, Collins exits, and pressure mounts
After xEMU, NASA moved forward with a private initiative involving Axiom Space and Collins Aerospace. But, according to the report, Collins did not proceed with the contract and left the project, which increased the burden on Axiom as the main path to deliver a new suit.
This helps explain why any warning from the Inspector General becomes a big deal: without new suits, NASA cannot land on the Moon and also faces restrictions on expanding spacewalks, as many current suits have been reused since the Space Shuttle era, requiring constant maintenance to remain operational.
Axiom’s response to NASA: 950 hours of testing and 1,300 revised components
Axiom responded publicly, citing a volume of validations already completed. The company stated it has 950 hours of crewed pressurization tests, meaning with people wearing the suit in tests to check for leaks, thermal comfort, humidity control, and other critical system points.
Furthermore, Axiom declared that over 1,300 components have already passed NASA’s critical design review, a stage where parts and solutions are evaluated and approved to continue advancing in development. The company also said it is committed to delivering a demonstration suit in 2027, with the goal of ensuring equipment is available for 2028.
What’s at stake in practice: Artemis 2028 depends on the suit, and there’s no immediate substitute
The practical impact is direct: without a new suit, there is no lunar landing. And the problem doesn’t stop on the Moon. Without an immediate substitute, NASA continues to rely on repairs and adaptations to old suits, with parts that fail and require fixes to keep everything functioning.
The report also mentions a relevant limitation: there would not be two suits in women’s sizes on the American side, something pointed out as a problem due to physical constitution differences among astronauts. This reinforces the pressure for a new generation of more modern suits with better size coverage and adjustments.
The next steps: demonstration in 2027 and delivery for 2028 with redundancy
Axiom indicates the next milestone as the delivery of the demonstration suit in 2027. The expectation described is that NASA will have equipment in 2028, with the possibility of a larger set for redundancy, going beyond four units if necessary.
For Axiom, the contract also has strategic weight: if it manages to deliver a functional suit approved by NASA, the company gains a product with potential for prolonged demand, including for other private initiatives related to space stations.
In the end, the discussion returns to the essential: NASA is in a hurry, carries a costly history of failures, and now needs the private solution to work on time.
Do you think NASA can escape another cycle of delays with Axiom, or does the history of xEMU indicate that the schedule will slip again?
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