NEWARK, Del .– (BUSINESS WIRE) – ILC Dover, the leading supplier of space suits since the Apollo era, has been selected as part of Collins’ industry-leading team of industry leaders Aerospace, along Oceaneering, to produce the next generation of NASA extravehicular space suit. This next-generation outer space spacecraft could be worn by astronauts while working off the International Space Station and soon on the surface of the Moon.
Space suits will be a vital part of NASA’s Artemis missions, which will be the historic mission of the first female astronaut and the next male astronaut to the moon in 2025. Through collaboration with commercial and international partners, NASA plans to establish its first long-term presence on the moon.
“With more than 50 years of providing space suits to ensure the safety of American astronauts in the harsh environment of space, working on this new space suit has been the perfect project for our team of experts,” said Patty. Stoll, President of Space Systems at ILC Dover. . “We look forward to returning to the moon again through this partnership as a supplier of NASA lunar space suits.”
ILC Dover will supply the pressure piece, while Collins Aerospace, the main contractor, will supply the Portable Life Support System (PLSS) and Oceaneering will supply the tools. ILC Dover adapted its Astro ™ space suit for NASA to provide a unique pressure piece that offers enhanced comfort and mobility, fewer components while adapting to a wider range of astronaut sizes and reduced mass .
“The pressure piece of the ILC Dover space suit is designed based on decades of experience in spaceflight, cutting-edge technology and extensive work with astronauts who have used these suits first hand,” said Nicole Stott, senior technical advisor at ILC Dover and former NASA astronaut. “As we return to the moon and beyond, I’m especially excited about the next-generation space suit because it’s not only more comfortable and flexible, but it will also fit the shapes and sizes of every member of our crew. “.
This award fosters ILC Dover’s industry-leading position as a vendor of choice for well-designed space solutions. The company is currently partnering with leading aerospace companies to develop a variety of next-generation space economy solutions, including inflatable habitats, air fences and shelters for use in low Earth orbit, deep space and exploration. lunar / planetary. ILC Dover’s inflatable habitats are vital as the industry seeks to build commercial stations in low orbit and deep space.
In addition, last week, Boeing designated ILC Dover as one of two suppliers of its Ascent / Entry Suit (AES) suit for the company’s commercial crew program by developing an AES suit for the crews of the CST-100 Starliner. The company’s space suits have been worn for more than 250 spaceflights, six landings on the moon and more than 3,000 hours of space-free walks. In addition, ILC Dover provided the landing air cushions that created a smooth landing during the successful Boeing Orbital Flight Test-2 of its Starliner spacecraft last week.
ILC Dover will continue to innovate and lead the industry in providing soft space solutions, from space suits and inflatable habitats to impact bags. Imbued with a deep tradition of security, ILC Dover’s industry-leading experts understand how to deliver seamless solutions that exceed expectations. From the first step to the moon, to the next giant leap to Mars, ILC Dover hopes to work with NASA and industry to go beyond the limits.
For more information about ILC Dover, visit www.ilcdover.com/aerospace or follow ILC Dover on Instagram, LinkedIn, Facebook, and Twitter.
About ILC Dover
ILC Dover is a world leader in the innovative design and production of space exploration technology that includes space suits, space habitats and inflatable landing systems. The company’s space suits have been worn for more than 250 spaceflights, six landings on the moon and more than 3,000 hours of space-free walks. ILC Dover has developed two commercial suits, Sol ™, a launch, entry and abortion suit (LEA), and Astro ™, an extravehicular (EVA) suit and planetary exploration suit. Our customers will attest to our tireless dedication to high-value products, advanced technology and responsive service, as our visionary solutions have improved efficiency while protecting people, products and infrastructure in hazardous conditions. using flexible security solutions since 1947. For more information on ILC Dover, visit www.ilcdover.com.