California, USA (CU)_ NASA has picked two Houston-based aerospace businesses to continue developing next-generation spacesuits and spacewalk technologies. The announcement is the most recent in a string of high-profile events that are revitalizing Houston’s aerospace industry. The spacesuits will be used by the crew of the International Space Station, astronauts on Artemis missions, and future human Mars expeditions.
Axiom Space and Collins Aerospace will race for task orders as part of the Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services (xEVAS) contract. Axiom Space recently broke ground on its headquarters at Houston Spaceport, and Collins Aerospace is constructing a manufacturing facility and startup incubator at Houston Spaceport. The maximum potential value of the agreement until 2034 is $3.5 billion.
Vanessa Wyche, Director of the Johnson Space Center at NASA, said, “With these awards, NASA and our partners will develop advanced, reliable spacesuits that allow humans to explore the cosmos unlike ever before. By partnering with industry, we are efficiently advancing the necessary technology to keep Americans on a path of successful discovery on the International Space Station and as we set our sights on exploring the lunar surface.”
According to the media statement from the company, Collins Aerospace claims that its new suits, which were created by astronauts, are lighter and more versatile, enabling longer mission durations. Phil Jasper, president of Mission Systems for Collins Aerospace, expressed confidence saying, “Collins was there when the first man walked on the moon, and we’ll be there when humankind goes back”. According to the corporation, Axiom Space will create its spacesuits to enable additional flexibility and specialized instruments for exploration and research purposes. Michael Suffredini, President and CEO of Axiom Space, expressed delight over the recognition. He said, “We are immensely pleased that NASA recognizes the value Axiom Space is providing across a range of human spaceflight activities, from our recent private astronaut mission to the ISS to the design and development of Axiom Station, and now to providing this critical system and associated services for astronauts in LEO [low Earth Orbit] and beyond”.
