Overview
- NASA’s inspector general, in a report published Monday, said Artemis and ISS suit demonstrations could slide to 2031 based on recent program timelines that average about 8.7 years from award to first flight.
- Collins Aerospace exited the effort in 2024, leaving Axiom Space as NASA’s sole provider for both lunar and spacewalk suits as the agency faces aging ISS gear with known hazards like helmet water leaks and poor thermal control.
- The audit faults NASA’s firm‑fixed‑price, rent‑the‑service approach for a high‑risk development effort and urges interoperability standards, noting Axiom’s suit interface would force Blue Origin to rework its Blue Moon airlock or build new don and doff hardware.
- NASA says the suit work remains aligned to support a 2028 landing and Axiom cites more than 950 hours of crewed pressurized testing with a critical design review targeted this year and a 2027 in‑flight demo.
- A prolonged slip could delay the first planned surface mission by at least three years, compress ISS operations before its expected 2030 retirement, and push redesign costs onto other Artemis hardware.