What Makes A Spacesuit Work?

Space suits are more than astronaut fashion–they’re sophisticated life-support systems. Engineered to survive the vacuum of space, extreme temperatures, and solar radiation, these suits are wearable spacecraft that enable astronauts to explore beyond Earth safely.

Why Do Astronauts Need Space Suits?

Space is a hostile environment characterized by the absence of breathable air, extreme temperatures, and intense radiation. A space suit creates a personal “mini-Earth” for astronauts, providing air, maintaining pressure, and shielding them from debris.
They’re essential during extravehicular activities(EVAs), such as repairing the International Space Station or exploring the lunar surface–without a suit, even brief exposure would be fatal.

How Are Space Suits Built?

Modern suits like NASA’s Artemis xEMU are composed of multiple layers: 

• Inner thermal control layer: Circulating water tubes regulate body temperatures
• Pressure garment: Maintains stable internal pressure and holds oxygen.
• Outer protective shelf: Made from durable materials like Kevlar to guard against impacts and the abrasive lunar dust.

Suits include visors for sun protection, built-in communication systems, maneuverable gloves, and the PLSS backpack, which manages oxygen, cooling, and CO2 removal.

The Engineering Behind the Design

Balancing mobility with pressurization is a major challenge. Engineers design suits with soft-robotic joints and test them in vacuum chambers to ensure flexibility.
Gloves feature fingertip articulation for dexterity during tasks, while the PLSS backpack functions like a portable spacecraft, supporting life, communication, and power.

What’s New with Artemis Suits (xEMU/AxEMU)? 

• Developed by Axiom Space using NASA’s xEMU prototype, the AxEMU modular suit fits a wide range of astronaut sizes. nasa.gov +10 nasa.gov +10 axiomspace.com +10 
• Improved mobility allows astronauts to bend, kneel, and explore lunar terrain more easily. The modular design reduces mission costs and simplifies repairs. moon.nasa.gov +7 axiomspace.com +7 nasa.gov +7 
• Enhanced protection against harsh lunar dust and temperature extremes; built to support up to 8-hour spacewalks, two hours longer than Apollo-era suits.

Space suits are remarkable feats of engineering, combining life support, materials science, and robotics to protect astronauts. As NASA prepares for Artemis III and beyond, these suits are evolving into smarter, more adaptable armor, ready for the next frontier on the Moon and Mars.