KBR and Axiom Space Advance Lunar Exploration with AxEMU Spacesuit Success

KBR and Axiom Space have successfully completed initial crewed underwater tests of the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) at NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory. The tests confirmed the spacesuit's seal integrity and airtightness, crucial for NASA's Artemis III mission to explore the Moon's south pole. KBR's President, Defense, Intel, and Space, Mark Kavanaugh, highlighted the company's leadership in supporting human spaceflight and next-generation EVA systems, while Axiom Space's Executive Vice President, Russell Ralston, expressed confidence in KBR's spacesuit innovation expertise.

KBR (NYSE: KBR) and Axiom Space have successfully completed three crewed underwater tests of the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) at NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) at Johnson Space Center. The tests, conducted in a 6.2-million-gallon pool, validated the spacesuit's integrity in simulated zero-gravity conditions, marking a significant milestone in space exploration technology [1][2].

The AxEMU, being developed for NASA's Artemis III mission, demonstrated complete seal integrity and airtightness during testing. This achievement is part of the Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services (xEVAS) contract, marking a crucial step toward enabling future lunar missions. The next-generation spacesuit is designed to provide enhanced versatility, reliability, and adaptability for moon exploration and beyond.

KBR's role in this achievement is part of the xEVAS contract, which supports NASA's evaluation of the next-generation spacesuit. Mark Kavanaugh, KBR’s President, Defense, Intel, and Space, highlighted the company's leadership in supporting human spaceflight and next-generation EVA systems. Russell Ralston, Executive Vice President of Extravehicular Activity at Axiom Space, expressed confidence in KBR's spacesuit innovation expertise, stating that the AxEMU will enable astronauts to return to the Moon's south pole with more flexibility, mobility, and protection.

Testing is critical to validating the suit's performance and confirming its readiness for operational use. Together, KBR and Axiom Space continue to support the next era of human space exploration, helping astronauts train, suit up, and safely carry out missions in space.

References:
[1] https://www.marketscreener.com/news/kbr-and-axiom-space-successfully-complete-initial-crewed-spacesuit-tests-in-nasa-s-neutral-buoyancy-ce7c51dad989f020
[2] https://www.stocktitan.net/news/KBR/kbr-and-axiom-space-successfully-complete-initial-crewed-spacesuit-6uv0o6iax6pu.html