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Author
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Topic: [Discuss] NASA xEVAS spacesuit contracts
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 52648
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-02-2022 12:30 PM
   
Please use this topic to discuss NASA's Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services (xEVAS) contracts awarded to Axiom Space and Collins Aerospace for the next generation of U.S. spacesuits. |
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Member Posts: 1311
From: Vancouver, WA, USA
Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 06-02-2022 12:31 PM
Did representatives from these two companies mention if they had interviewed or consulted with any of the living Apollo moonwalkers?I am curious to know if they sought any first-hand knowledge/experience. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 52648
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-02-2022 01:22 PM
Dan Burbank, speaking for Collins Aerospace, highlighted the company's Apollo legacy (its Hamilton Sundstrand division was previously Hamilton Standard, which with ILC, designed and built the Apollo A7L spacesuit), and he mentioned how astronauts were involved in the design of its xEVAS spacesuit, but no specific mention was made of Apollo-era crew members.Both Collins and Axiom Space will have access to NASA's EVA Technical Library, which includes Apollo Experience Reports. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 52648
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-25-2024 04:03 PM
Collins Aerospace is in talks with NASA to back out of its contract to build new spacesuits, reports Reuters citing "two people familiar with the discussions." Collins' role in the program has been bumpy and development has fallen behind schedule, and the company has been in talks with NASA officials on how to wind down its role in the program, the two people said.[Collins] and NASA did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Ars Technica provides some additional detail: On Tuesday morning Chris Ayers, general manager at Collins Aerospace, met with employees to tell them about the company's exit from the program. A NASA source confirmed decision."Unfortunately Collins has been significantly behind schedule," a person familiar with the situation told Ars. "Collins has admitted they have drastically underperformed and have overspent on their xEVAS work, culminating in a request to be taken off the contract or renegotiate the scope and their budget." |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 52648
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-25-2024 06:30 PM
SpaceNews received a statement from Collins: After a thorough evaluation, Collins Aerospace and NASA mutually agreed to descope Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services (xEVAS) task orders. Collins remains committed to supporting NASA and human spaceflight programs. Other contracts with NASA remain on track including the Extravehicular Space Operations Contract (ESOC), which supports the current generation of spacesuits for spacewalks outside the International Space Station. As part of the ESOC agreement, Collins and NASA have added a six-year extension to this contract. |
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Member Posts: 1311
From: Vancouver, WA, USA
Registered: Feb 2012
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posted 06-26-2024 05:50 PM
This stinks. NASA should have started issuing contracts for lunar exploration suits at least two years before they finally woke up.Between SpaceX still developing their Super-Heavy booster, still developing their Starship-based lunar lander, and our astronauts not having anything to wear on the moon, I have resigned myself to not seeing another American on the Moon in my lifetime. Maybe NASA's best bet is to see if the Russians still have any Krechet suits left over from their lunar program. At least we know that they weren't used. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 52648
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 06-26-2024 07:26 PM
Collins wasn't developing a lunar suit; they have stepped back from developing a replacement for the EMU to be used on the ISS and in low Earth orbit. Axiom Space is still developing the next suit to be worn on the moon and by recent accounts is on schedule to deliver them on time. |
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