Artemis Moonsuits in the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory
NASA is employing its Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) to develop the training procedures that will ready astronauts for upcoming Artemis missions. The large water tank of the NBL simulates the weightlessness and partial gravity conditions found on the Moon.
During these exercises, the newly designed Artemis moon suits are worn by astronauts and submerged to evaluate mobility, life‑support systems, and tool handling under conditions approximating a lunar walk.
The aim is to refine the protocols and timelines for lunar surface excursions before crews actually set foot on the Moon. Both the technical performance of the suits and the coordinated crew activities are practiced.
Insights gained from the NBL feed directly into mission preparation and are intended to enhance the safety and efficiency of future lunar exploration.