Artemis moon landing could face long delay while NASA waits for next-generation spacesuits
By Patrick Pester
Published on April 22, 2026.
NASA's next-generation spacesuits are not ready, delaying the Artemis moon landings by more than three years, according to an audit report by the NASA Office of Inspector General (OIG). The report found that design and testing delays will mean demonstrations of the Artemis spacesuits, provided by private contractor Axiom Space, won't occur until 2031. This delay could delay future moon missions. The report also found that NASA's acquisition strategy was overconfident and its spacesuit schedule was overly optimistic. The current Apollo suits and current International Space Station (ISS) spacesuits also need major redesign due to significant safety risks. If NASA doesn't have new suits, astronauts may have to continue using the ISS's EMUs until the end of the ISS’s lifespan.
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