Tech Briefs Magazine - November 2021 - 24

Artemis III
EXPLORATION EXTRAVEHICULAR
MOBILITY UNIT (xEMU)
High Speed Data Comm.
HD Video and Lights
Informatics Display and Control
Integrated Communications
(No Snoopy Cap)
Automated Suit Checkout
4.3 - 8.2 psi Variable Pressure
1 Hr. Emergency Return
Vacuum Regenerative CO2
Removal System
Membrane Evaporation Cooling
Modular/ORU PLSS Design
Rear Entry Ingress/Egress
Enhanced Upper Mobility
Environment Protection
Garment (EPG) w/Dust Mitigation
Planetary Mobility
The xEMU is the spacesuit that will
be worn by the first woman and
next man to walk on the Moon. The
new generation of technologies and
capabilities incorporated into this
spacesuit enable spacewalks (EVAs)
in deep space, on the lunar surface,
and on Mars.
they will make history in a
spacesuit that provides greater mobility
over its Apollo and space station spacesuit
predecessors, enabling us to expand
our footprint and achieve modern scientific
discoveries while exploring new territory, "
said Hansen.
Artemis,
EVA SPACESUIT TECHNOLOGY AND DESIGN
Artemis III astronauts will wear the new Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU) spacesuit
as they explore the surface.
Several new technologies are undergoing
development and testing to help optimize
the safety, productivity, and cost-effectiveness
of future EVAs (Extra-Vehicular
Activities), or spacewalks.
Currently, astronauts on spacewalks
rely on spiral-bound notebooks attached
to their elbows to flip through checklists.
Collins Aerospace's integrated Information
Technologies and Informatics
Subsystem (IT IS) allows astronauts to
autonomously track these checklists and
act upon the status of their health and
that of their EVA companions (vital
signs, exertion levels) through a display
system in their helmets. They can also
monitor the performance of a wide
range of EVA systems: power, oxygen,
water reserves, the astronauts' location,
EVA elapsed time, EVA time remaining,
and range from supplies. The IT IS also
displays maps and a wide
array of other data supporting
as tronaut science
and exploration activities
such as imaging, notetaking,
and sample management.
" Our
team has developed
incredible knowledge
about spacewalking
and spacesuit activity over
the last several decades and
extensively studied the
unique environments our
astronauts will need to
operate
in, "
24
Cov
said
Hansen, manager of the
Extravehicular Activity Of -
fice at NASA's Johnson Space Center. " We
hope to pair that with the ingenuity of the
private sector to enable a versatile EVA
capability. "
Field tests integrated the Norwegian
company Ntention's Astronaut Smart
Glove (ASG) system with IT IS. The ASG
is an advanced human-machine interface
(HMI) integrated into the spacesuit helmet
and glove. It allows an astronaut to
remotely operate a wide range of possible
robotic assets - such as robotic arms,
cranes, rovers, and even drones - with
minimal hand gestures compatible with
wearing a constricting and rigid pressurized
spacesuit. The ASG field test demonstrated
the successful collection of rock
sample materials from remote locations
not directly accessible to the astronaut.
" When the next American astronauts
step foot on the Moon as a part of
Navigating and Communicating
Where NASA intends to land Artemis
III astronauts, direct-to-Earth communications
at times will not be possible, even
via orbital relays. Space communications
and navigation engineers at NASA are
evaluating the navigation needs for the
Artemis program including identifying
the precision navigation capabilities
needed to establish the first sustained
presence on the lunar surface.
" Artemis engages us to apply creative
navigation solutions, choosing the right
combination of capabilities for each mission, "
said Cheryl Gramling, associate
chief for technology in the Mission
Engineering and Systems Analysis
Division at Goddard Space Flight Center
in Greenbelt, MD.
Alongside proven navigation capabilities,
NASA will use innovative navigation
technologies during the upcoming Ar -
temis missions. " Lunar missions provide
the opportunity to test and refine novel
space navigation techniques, " said Ben
Ashman,
a
navigation
engineer
Goddard. " The Moon is a fascinating
place to explore and can serve as a proving
ground that expands our navigation
toolkit for more distant destinations like
Mars. "
Chris
The LunaNet communications and navigation architecture will enable the precision
navigation required for crewed missions to the Moon and place astronauts closer
to scientifically significant lunar sites. (NASA/Resse Patillo)
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ToC
Ultimately, exploration missions need
a robust combination of capabilities to
provide the availability, resiliency, and
integrity required from an in-situ navigation
system. One such
system is LunaNet, a
unique communications
and navigation architecture
developed by NASA's
Space Communications
and Navigation (SCaN)
program. LunaNet's common
standards, protocols,
and interface requirements
will extend Inter -
net working to the Moon,
of fering unprecedented
flexibility and access to
data.
For navigation, LunaNet
offers operational independence
and increased
Tech Briefs, November 2021
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Tech Briefs Magazine - November 2021

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