NASA simplifies Artemis Moon spacesuits for 2028 landings, drops Lunar Gateway to speed program

NASA will use a simplified spacesuit design for its first Artemis Moon landings, targeting a 2028 return to the lunar surface. The agency announced the decision during an internal meeting this week, directing Axiom Space to develop a “Sortie Suit” variant to reduce mass, complexity, and interface requirements with lunar landers, according to Ars Technica .
The move is part of broader efforts to accelerate the Artemis program, which had fallen behind schedule. Administrator Jared Isaacman, who took office in December 2025, has streamlined production of the Space Launch System rocket and canceled the Lunar Gateway to ease constraints on lander development. The Sortie Suit will support initial missions using landers from SpaceX and Blue Origin, The Next Web reported .
Axiom Space remains NASA’s sole provider of lunar surface suits after Collins Aerospace exited the program in 2024. The agency had previously awarded contracts to both companies, but progress concerns and financial constraints left Axiom as the only active developer. The simplified suit aims to ensure astronauts can conduct surface operations, including science and photography, during early Artemis missions.
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