NASA’s Kagey Guides Spacewalks in Simulated Microgravity

Jaclyn Kagey has spent over 25 years at NASA and now leads the Artemis extravehicular activity program, shaping humanity’s return to the Moon. Kagey plays a central role in preparing astronauts to safely explore the Moon’s South Pole, a region never before visited by humans, and will define how they work on the lunar surface after arriving via a commercial lander. “My mission is to shape this historic endeavor by working closely with scientists and industry partners to define lunar surface activities,” Kagey explains. “We are setting the standard for humanity’s return to the Moon.” Her experience, honed through years of complex programs and including a critical International Space Station repair completed in 36 hours, is essential as NASA prepares for these ambitious Artemis missions.

Artemis Missions Focus on Lunar South Pole Exploration

During the upcoming Artemis missions, astronauts will explore the Moon’s South Pole, a region never visited by humans. Crews will venture outside a commercial lander, NASA’s human landing system, which will serve as the crucial link between lunar orbit and the surface, representing a significant reliance on private industry for this undertaking. Kagey’s career spans more than 25 years and includes work across some of the agency’s most complex programs, providing invaluable experience in high-stakes scenarios. She recalls a critical ammonia leak on the International Space Station where her team had only 36 hours to plan and execute a repair, demonstrating their ability to perform under pressure.

Kagey’s influence extends to spacesuit design; her own experience with ill-fitting legacy suits drove her advocacy for more inclusive designs. She exclaimed after recently testing Axiom Space’s new lunar spacesuit, the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU), “It’s exciting to literally fit into the future of spacewalks!” This highlights a commitment to ensuring the equipment supports a diverse range of astronaut body types. Kagey emphasizes that adaptability is key, noting, “Things rarely go exactly as planned, and my job is to respond in a way that keeps the crew safe and the mission moving forward.”

Jaclyn Kagey’s ISS Spacewalk Leak Response

Jaclyn Kagey’s current role as Artemis Extravehicular Activity Lead builds upon a career spanning more than 25 years of high-stakes operational experience, including critical incident management aboard the International Space Station. Beyond defining lunar surface activities and establishing standards for humanity’s return to the Moon, Kagey’s expertise was forged during a challenging ammonia leak on the ISS. The incident demanded a rapid response; within 36 hours, her team planned, prepared spacesuits, and executed a repair, demonstrating a capacity for decisive action under immense pressure. This ability to adapt and problem-solve extends beyond immediate crisis response, informing her approach to the Artemis program, where astronauts will explore a region of the Moon’s South Pole never visited by humans using a commercial lander as NASA’s human landing system. Kagey’s career spans more than 25 years and has also shaped her advocacy for inclusive spacesuit design; a personal experience with the limitations of earlier models, being unable to fully complete a test due to the suit’s proportions, motivated her to champion designs accommodating a broader range of body types.

AxEMU Spacesuit Design for Varied Astronaut Builds

Jaclyn Kagey’s career spanning more than 25 years at NASA has uniquely positioned her to advocate for inclusive spacesuit design, culminating in recent testing of Axiom Space’s Extravehicular Mobility Unit, or AxEMU. The AxEMU represents a significant step toward that goal, and Kagey recently completed initial testing in the suit using the Active Response Gravity Offload System at Johnson Space Center in Houston. This system simulates lunar gravity, allowing engineers to assess suit performance in a realistic environment. Beyond simply accommodating different heights, the AxEMU design prioritizes a wider range of builds, recognizing that future lunar crews will likely reflect greater diversity than previous astronaut corps.