Raytheon Technologies’ (NYSE: RTX) Collins Aerospace subsidiary and Axiom Space have won positions on a potential 12-year, $3.5 billion contract to develop next-generation spacesuits that would enable NASA astronauts to perform spacewalks outside the International Space Station and explore the lunar surface as part of Artemis missions.

NASA said Thursday the Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract has a performance period that will run through 2034 and includes an option that allows the space agency to add additional contractors.

The initial task orders to be competed under the xEVAS contract will focus on the development and delivery of services for the first demonstration of the spacesuits outside the ISS in low-Earth orbit and for the Artemis III moon landing.

NASA said each company has invested a significant amount of funds to develop the spacesuits.

“Our commercial partnerships will help realize our human exploration goals,” said Mark Kirasich, deputy associate administrator of NASA’s Artemis campaign development division. “We look forward to using these services for NASA’s continued presence in low-Earth orbit and our upcoming achievement of returning American astronauts to the Moon’s surface.”

The EVA and Human Surface Mobility Program at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston oversees the xEVAS IDIQ contract.

Collins Aerospace said it will work with ILC Dover and Oceaneering on the spacesuit development contract.

Companies included in Axiom Space’s team that will work on the contract are KBR (NYSE: KBR), David Clark Co., Paragon Space Development, Air-Lock, A-P-T Research and Sophic Synergistics.