Latest / Elon Musk Podcast / NASA testing Lunar suits for SpaceX HLS mission

Transcript

NASA testing Lunar suits for SpaceX HLS mission · Elon Musk Podcast

• 0:01
  Hey everybody. Welcome back to the Elon Musk
• 0:04
  podcast. This is a show where we discuss.
• 0:07
  The critical crossroads, The shape SpaceX.
• 0:09
  Tesla X, The Boring Company, and Neuralink and I'm your host Will
• 0:15
  Walden. If you want uninterrupted
• 0:17
  episodes of the Elon Musk podcast, please go to
• 0:20
  clubelon.supercast.com to find out how there's a link in the
• 0:26
  show notes. NASA's Artemis program, with its
• 0:28
  ambitious goal to return humans to the moon, has entered A
• 0:31
  crucial phase in its development, particularly
• 0:34
  concerning the space suits that will be worn by astronauts.
• 0:38
  Now Axiom Space, which is a private company, has been tasked
• 0:41
  with developing these next generation lunar space suits,
• 0:44
  which recently underwent rigorous testing at NASA's
• 0:47
  Johnson Space Center. The testing included a series of
• 0:51
  mobility tests that astronauts will need to perform on the
• 0:53
  moon, such as picking up samples and also using geological tools.
• 0:58
  The design and testing of the Axiom space suits are integral
• 1:01
  to Artemis Mission's success, and these suits are being put
• 1:05
  through their paces and environments that stimulates the
• 1:08
  moon's partial gravity. Like NASA's Neutral Buoyancy
• 1:12
  Lab, ensuring the suits meet NASA's stringent safety and
• 1:15
  performance requirements is a top priority, as these garments
• 1:18
  will support the first woman and the first person of color to set
• 1:22
  foot on the lunar surface. Now a significant milestone of
• 1:25
  the development of these space suits is the Critical Design
• 1:29
  Review, which axioms space officials hinted could occur as
• 1:33
  soon as June of this year. Now this milestone comes amidst
• 1:36
  delays in the Artemis program, with a lunar landing now slated
• 1:40
  for no earlier than 2026. This shift in timelines has been
• 1:45
  attributed to various challenges, including those
• 1:47
  related to the space suit development itself and also the
• 1:51
  SpaceX Starship. Now The new space suits promise
• 1:55
  enhanced flexibility compared to their Apollo era predecessors,
• 1:59
  addressing one of the key issues faced by astronauts in the past.
• 2:03
  However, the journey to this point has not been without his
• 2:06
  hurdles. NASA's initial plans for space
• 2:08
  suit development face delays due to funding issues, the COVID-19
• 2:12
  pandemic, and technical challenges, leading to a pivot
• 2:16
  towards involving private vendors like Axiom Space and
• 2:20
  Collins Aerospace. The Axiom Extra Vehicular
• 2:23
  Mobility unit, the AX EMU, was unveiled in a live stream event,
• 2:28
  although certain details were obscured to protect proprietary
• 2:31
  information. The development of Axemu
• 2:35
  involves the consortium of industry experts highlighting
• 2:37
  the collaborative effort required to bring this critical
• 2:40
  component of lunar exploration to fruition.
• 2:44
  Now The environments that astronauts will face on the
• 2:46
  Moon, especially in the South Pole region where astronauts and
• 2:50
  Artemis missions are targeted, present very unique challenges.
• 2:54
  And unlike the Apollo missions from about 50 years ago, which
• 2:57
  explored the Equatorial region, Artemis astronauts will
• 3:01
  encounter colder temperatures and potentially water ice.
• 3:06
  The Axe Emo is being designed to withstand these conditions, with
• 3:09
  testing and vacuum chambers and underwater simulations to ensure
• 3:13
  readiness. And NASA's current space suits,
• 3:16
  designed decades ago for the Space Shuttle program, are not
• 3:19
  suited for lunar exploration. This necessitates the
• 3:22
  development of a new generation of space suits that can
• 3:25
  accommodate A wider range of astronaut body types and enable
• 3:28
  complex movements required for lunar surface activities.
• 3:32
  The inclusion and accommodation of diverse astronaut body types
• 3:36
  in the new space suit design shows that NASA has been
• 3:39
  evolving and they're hiring practices and their commitment
• 3:42
  to diversity is showing through. The Axiomu aims to support
• 3:46
  astronauts of various sizes and genders, which is a significant
• 3:49
  step forward from the limitations of past spacesuit
• 3:53
  designs. The Artemis program is not just
• 3:55
  a series of missions though that's been put together of
• 3:58
  broader collaboration and coalition of over 30 nations
• 4:01
  committed to peaceful lunar exploration under the Artemis
• 4:04
  Accords. This international collaboration
• 4:06
  underscores the global interest in returning to the Moon and the
• 4:10
  importance of setting precedents for future space exploration.
• 4:13
  And despite the excitement surrounding the Artemis program
• 4:16
  in its milestones, recent delays have raised concerns about the
• 4:20
  pace of progress, especially in comparison to other nations
• 4:24
  lunar ambitions. The race to the Moon is not just
• 4:27
  a technical challenge, but also a geopolitical one, with
• 4:30
  significant implications for international cooperation and
• 4:33
  norms and space exploration. The unveiling of the AXMU and
• 4:37
  the ongoing testing at NASA facilities keep public interest
• 4:41
  alive in the Artemis program, despite the postponements.
• 4:44
  And these space suits are not just vital for astronaut safety,
• 4:47
  but also represent the tangible progress being made towards
• 4:50
  returning humans back to the lunar surface after about half
• 4:55
  of a century. The rigorous testing regime for
• 4:59
  the AXMU, including simulated moon walks and underwater test,
• 5:03
  shows that the thoroughness of the preparedness is required for
• 5:09
  lunar exploration in every aspect of the SU's design, from
• 5:12
  mobility to resistance to lunar dust and temperatures.
• 5:15
  Being scrutinized every single step of the way to ensure the
• 5:20
  success of future missions and the development of the Eximu and
• 5:23
  its testing are crucial steps for the Artemis program, laying
• 5:27
  the foundation for the next era of lunar exploration.
• 5:30
  Like NASA says, From the Moon to Mars and beyond in these efforts
• 5:34
  under score the complexity of the challenges of sending humans
• 5:37
  back to the Moon, from ensuring the safety and effectiveness of
• 5:40
  space suits to meeting the logistical demands of such
• 5:43
  ambitious missions. And as the Artemis program
• 5:47
  progresses, the importance of safety, innovation, and
• 5:51
  international cooperation remains at the forefront.
• 5:54
  The development of the X EMU suit is a key component of this
• 5:58
  endeavor, representing the cutting edge technology and
• 6:01
  collaborative spirit that will enable humans to return to the
• 6:05
  moon. The AXMU design, testing, and
• 6:08
  eventual deployment are critical milestones in the Artemis
• 6:11
  program, symbolizing the advancements in space technology
• 6:15
  and the collaborative efforts required to push the boundaries
• 6:18
  of human space exploration past the moon.
• 6:21
  Now NASA and Axiom Space are collaborating, but they're also
• 6:26
  using other industry partners. And this is a modern approach to
• 6:30
  space exploration. For public and private
• 6:32
  partnerships play a crucial role in achieving ambitious goals
• 6:36
  like the Artemis lunar missions. And as the Artemis program
• 6:40
  continues to develop, the focus on innovation, safety, and
• 6:44
  inclusivity in space suit design reflects the evolving priorities
• 6:48
  and challenges of space exploration in the 21st century.
• 6:52
  Now for the Artemis program and the progress of it, particularly
• 6:56
  in the development of the XEMU space suit by Axiom Space shows
• 7:00
  that there's a balance between technical innovation, safety
• 7:03
  considerations, and international collaboration,
• 7:06
  which is required to extend human presence beyond Earth.
• 7:10
  Despite these delays, though that are happening, the
• 7:12
  continued testing and refinement of the space suits are vital
• 7:15
  steps toward achieving the goal of returning astronauts to the
• 7:18
  Moon, which sets the stage for future exploration and discovery
• 7:23
  past the Moon and out to Mars. Hey, thank you so much for
• 7:27
  listening today. I really do appreciate your
• 7:29
  support. If you could take a second and
• 7:31
  hit the subscribe or the follow button on whatever podcast
• 7:33
  platform that you're listening on right now, I greatly
• 7:36
  appreciate it. It helps out the show
• 7:38
  tremendously and you'll never miss an episode.
• 7:41
  And each. Episode is about 10 minutes or
• 7:43
  less to get you caught up quickly.
• 7:45
  And please, if you want to support the show even more, go
• 7:49
  to patreon.com/stagezero. Please take care of yourselves
• 7:54
  and each other and I'll see you tomorrow.