NASA recently tested a model elevator designed to help astronauts get from a lunar lander to the lunar surface. The SpaceX "Starship" landing system will be used to transport two astronauts from the Orion spacecraft in lunar orbit to the lunar surface. The landing module can provide life support for the two explorers for up to a week and can safely return them to Orion when the work is completed.
As NASA emphasized, Starship's habitable zone is located near the top of the lander, so they needed an efficient way to reach the surface that didn't require risk-taking.
The simulation capsule, built at SpaceX's facility in Hawthorne, California, gave astronauts a feel for what the final hardware would look like, including functioning mechanical components and interfaces. During the test, NASA astronauts even wore spacesuits to better simulate the movement restrictions they would encounter in space.
In the "Artemis III" project, NASA adopted a new spacesuit being developed by AxiomSpace. Luxury fashion giant Prada also participated in the design.
The astronauts were also able to provide valuable feedback from the crew's perspective, such as how the door locks and ramp-deployment systems work while in the suit. The testing also gleaned valuable information about available cargo space - all of which can be used to modify the design before it is finalized or improve future revisions.
NASA aims to land Americans on the lunar surface for the first time in more than 50 years with Artemis III. If all goes according to plan, NASA hopes to return Americans to the moon by the end of 2025. The week-long mission could include up to four moonwalks, where a variety of tests will be conducted.
Artemis IV is the planned fourth mission and will dock for the first time with Gateway, a space station being built in lunar orbit.