JUST IN: NASA is cutting the weight of its lunar spacesuits by approximately 50% to accelerate America’s return to the Moon in 2028. The agency has unveiled a simplified version of Axiom Space’s AxEMU suit, known as the “Sortie Suit,” reducing its planned weight from more than 500 pounds to approximately 250 pounds. The redesigned suit is intended for shorter moonwalks near the lunar lander, with NASA planning two surface excursions lasting at least two hours each during Artemis IV. The decision reduces complexity, launch mass and development requirements as NASA races to prepare astronauts for their first lunar landing since Apollo. Axiom is targeting delivery of the suit’s pressure garment by the end of 2026, while NASA plans to test shared life-support technology aboard the International Space Station in 2027. The full-capability AxEMU remains in development for later missions involving longer lunar expeditions and permanent Moon-base construction. The simplified suit has not yet completed development or certification.