Dan Klopp - New Spacesuits for a New Era of Exploration: The Ex Terra Podcast

NASA recently awarded two contracts for the development of new spacesuits for a new era of exploration. On this edition of The Ex Terra Podcast, Tom Patton talks with Dan Klopp, Director of Marketing & Business Development for Space Systems at ILC Dover, which is part of the Collins Aerospace team which wan one of those contracts.

According to NASA, the companies selected were chosen from the Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services (xEVAS) contract solicitation. The contract enables selected vendors to compete for task orders for missions that will provide a full suite of capabilities for NASA’s spacewalking needs during the period of performance through 2034. The indefinite delivery and indefinite quantity, milestone-based xEVAS contract has a combined maximum potential value of $3.5 billion for all task order awards. The first task orders to be completed under the contract will include the development and services for the first demonstration outside the space station in low-Earth orbit and for the Artemis III lunar landing.

On the podcast, Klopp goes in-depth about some of the design changes for these new spacesuits from the Apollo-era suits made by ILC Dover for the Moon landings in the 1960s and 1970s.

ILC Dover will provide the pressure garment, while Collins Aerospace, the prime contractor, will supply the portable life support system (PLSS) and Oceaneering will supply the tools. ILC Dover tailored their Astro spacesuit for NASA to provide a unique pressure garment that offers improved comfort and mobility, fewer components while accommodating a broader range of astronaut sizes, and reduced mass.

ILC Dover has also been named by Boeing as one of two providers for their Ascent/Entry Suit (AES) for the company’s Commercial Crew Program developing an AES suit for CST-100 Starliner crews.

How does what happens in space affect your everyday life? The Ex Terra podcast is dedicated to introducing you to many of the interesting people involved in the commercial space industry, and taking you behind the scenes with many of the companies making significant contributions to the new space economy. The podcast is available on Anchor, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Breaker, Overcast, Pocketcasts and Radio Public.

Website: https://www.ilcdover.com