KBR and Axiom Space Successfully Complete Initial Crewed Spacesuit Tests in NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Lab
KBR (NYSE: KBR) and Axiom Space have achieved a significant milestone in space exploration technology by successfully completing three crewed underwater tests of the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) at NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory. The tests, conducted in a 6.2-million-gallon pool at Johnson Space Center, validated the spacesuit's integrity in simulated zero-gravity conditions.
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 (NYSE: KBR) e Axiom Space hanno raggiunto un importante traguardo nella tecnologia per l'esplorazione spaziale completando con successo tre prove subacquee con equipaggio dell'Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) presso il Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory della NASA. I test, svolti nella vasca da 6,2 milioni di galloni del Johnson Space Center, hanno confermato l'integrità della tuta in condizioni simulate di microgravità.
L'AxEMU, sviluppata per la missione Artemis III della NASA, ha dimostrato tenuta stagna e impermeabilità complete durante le prove. Questo risultato, parte del contratto Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services (xEVAS), rappresenta un passo fondamentale per le future missioni lunari. La tuta di nuova generazione è progettata per offrire maggiore versatilità, affidabilità e adattabilità per l'esplorazione della Luna e oltre.
KBR (NYSE: KBR) y Axiom Space han alcanzado un hito importante en tecnología de exploración espacial al completar con éxito tres ensayos subacuáticos tripulados del Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) en el Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory de la NASA. Las pruebas, realizadas en la piscina de 6,2 millones de galones del Johnson Space Center, validaron la integridad del traje en condiciones simuladas de ingravidez.
El AxEMU, desarrollado para la misión Artemis III de la NASA, demostró estanqueidad y hermeticidad completas durante las pruebas. Este logro forma parte del contrato Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services (xEVAS) y supone un paso clave para posibilitar futuras misiones lunares. El traje de nueva generación está diseñado para ofrecer mayor versatilidad, fiabilidad y adaptabilidad para la exploración lunar y más allá.
KBR (NYSE: KBR)와 Axiom Space는 NASA의 Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory에서 Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU)의 유인 수중 시험 3회를 성공적으로 완료하며 우주 탐사 기술의 중요한 이정표를 세웠습니다. Johnson Space Center의 약 620만 갤런 규모 수조에서 실시된 이 시험은 무중력 상태를 모사한 환경에서 우주복의 구조적 무결성을 검증했습니다.
AxEMU는 NASA의 Artemis III 임무를 위해 개발 중이며, 시험에서 완전한 밀폐성과 기밀성을 입증했습니다. 이 성과는 Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services(xEVAS) 계약의 일환으로 향후 달 탐사를 가능하게 하는 중요한 진전입니다. 차세대 우주복은 달 탐사 및 그 이상의 임무에서 더 높은 다용도성, 신뢰성 및 적응성을 제공하도록 설계되었습니다.
KBR (NYSE: KBR) et Axiom Space ont franchi une étape importante en technologie d'exploration spatiale en réalisant avec succès trois essais subaquatiques habités de l'Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) au Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory de la NASA. Les essais, effectués dans la piscine de 6,2 millions de gallons du Johnson Space Center, ont validé l'intégrité de la combinaison dans des conditions simulées d'apesanteur.
L'AxEMU, développée pour la mission Artemis III de la NASA, a démontré une étanchéité et une imperméabilité complètes lors des tests. Cette réussite s'inscrit dans le cadre du contrat Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services (xEVAS) et constitue une étape cruciale pour permettre les futures missions lunaires. Cette combinaison de nouvelle génération est conçue pour offrir plus de polyvalence, de fiabilité et d'adaptabilité pour l'exploration lunaire et au-delà.
KBR (NYSE: KBR) und Axiom Space haben einen wichtigen Meilenstein in der Raumfahrttechnik erreicht, indem sie drei bemannte Unterwasserprüfungen des Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) im Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory der NASA erfolgreich abgeschlossen haben. Die Tests in dem 6,2 Millionen Gallonen fassenden Becken am Johnson Space Center bestätigten die Integrität des Raumanzugs unter simulierten Schwerelosigkeitsbedingungen.
Das AxEMU, das für die NASA-Mission Artemis III entwickelt wird, zeigte während der Prüfungen vollständige Dichtigkeit und Luftdichtigkeit. Dieser Erfolg ist Teil des Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services (xEVAS)-Vertrags und stellt einen entscheidenden Schritt zur Ermöglichung zukünftiger Mondmissionen dar. Der Raumanzug der nächsten Generation ist darauf ausgelegt, für Monderkundungen und darüber hinaus erhöhte Vielseitigkeit, Zuverlässigkeit und Anpassungsfähigkeit zu bieten.
- Successful completion of initial crewed underwater tests for the AxEMU spacesuit
- Spacesuit demonstrated complete seal integrity and airtightness during testing
- Strategic partnership with NASA and Axiom Space strengthens KBR's position in space exploration
- Development of next-generation spacesuit technology for NASA's Artemis III mission
- None.
Insights
KBR's successful spacesuit testing with Axiom Space represents a significant milestone for NASA's Artemis mission, validating their space technology capabilities.
The successful completion of three crewed underwater tests of the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) marks a critical technical achievement in the development of next-generation spacesuits. These tests at NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory validated the suit's integrity in a simulated weightless environment, proving its airtight seal capabilities under pressure conditions similar to space.
From an engineering perspective, this milestone is particularly significant as it transitions the AxEMU from theoretical design to validated hardware ready for more advanced testing. The suit's performance in the 6.2-million-gallon pool demonstrates successful integration of complex life support systems, mobility joints, and pressure containment - all essential elements for lunar surface operations.
This advancement comes under the Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services (xEVAS) contract, positioning KBR as a key contributor to NASA's Artemis program. The technical requirements for lunar EVA suits are substantially more demanding than those for orbital operations, requiring protection against lunar dust, extreme temperature variations, and enhanced mobility for surface exploration.
The demonstrated partnership between KBR and Axiom Space represents the evolving commercial model NASA is employing for the Artemis program, where established aerospace contractors collaborate with newer commercial space entities. This successful test not only validates the technology but also confirms the viability of this partnership model for developing critical human spaceflight infrastructure.
HOUSTON, Aug. 12, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- KBR (NYSE: KBR) and Axiom Space recently completed three successful crewed underwater tests of the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) at NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) at Johnson Space Center —an important milestone as both companies work to support NASA's return to the Moon.
These initial crewed tests involved an astronaut being fully submerged in the NBL’s 6.2-million-gallon pool while wearing Axiom Space’s next-generation spacesuit, the AxEMU, which is being developed for use on NASA’s Artemis III mission. The goal was to evaluate the suit’s integrity in an environment that closely simulates the weightlessness of space.
Throughout the tests, the suit remained completely sealed and airtight, signifying it’s ready for more advanced evaluations, and ultimately, future missions.
"These successful tests demonstrate KBR's leadership in supporting human spaceflight and next generation EVA systems,” said Mark Kavanaugh, KBR’s President, Defense, Intel and Space. “Working in close partnership with NASA and Axiom Space, our team delivered mission critical support that showcases our technical depth, operational excellence and ability to advance innovative space solutions. As commercial space activity accelerates, KBR remains at the forefront, delivering capabilities that drive performance, safety and long-term growth.”
KBR’s role in this achievement is part of the Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services (xEVAS) contract, which supports NASA’s evaluation of the next-generation spacesuit. The suit is designed to be more versatile, reliable and adaptable to the evolving needs of space exploration, including future missions to the moon and beyond. Testing is critical to validating the suit's performance and confirming its readiness for operational use.
“Axiom Space is proud to have KBR’s decades of expertise in spacesuit innovation supporting the AxEMU,” said Russell Ralston, Executive Vice President of Extravehicular Activity, Axiom Space. “With KBR further enabling the AxEMU, astronauts will return to the south pole of the Moon with more flexibility, mobility, and protection to live and work in the harsh lunar environment.”
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.
About KBR
We deliver science, technology and engineering solutions to governments and companies around the world. KBR employs approximately 37,000 people worldwide with customers in more than 80 countries and operations in over 29 countries. KBR is proud to work with its customers across the globe to provide technology, value-added services, and long-term operations and maintenance services to ensure consistent delivery with predictable results. At KBR, We Deliver.
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Forward-Looking Statements
The statements in this press release that are not historical statements, including statements regarding future demand for the company’s services, the company’s leadership in supporting human spaceflight and the suitability and performance of Axiom Space’s spacesuit, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which are beyond the company’s control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, those set forth in the company’s most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequent Form 10-Qs and 8-Ks and other U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, which discuss some of the important risks, uncertainties and assumptions that the company has identified that may affect its business, results of operations and financial condition. Due to such risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, the company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason.
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