ILC Dover, the leading provider of spacesuit pressure garments and components since the Apollo era, is producing the next generation of spacesuits for the International Space Station (ISS), for use in low-earth orbit, deep space, and lunar/planetary exploration. The US-based company will work as part of the Collins Aerospace-led team.

ILC Dover will support the second task order under NASA’s Extravehicular Activity Services (xEVAS) Contract, which has a base value of $97.2 million, the company said in a press release.

The new spacesuits utilise the company’s Astro spacesuit architecture to provide a unique design that offers improved comfort and mobility, fewer components, and reduced mass, and can be retrofitted for lunar or planetary exploration. Among an industry-leading team, the company 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.

“This is an exciting moment as we continue to be a part of history. ILC Dover is fuelling the next generation space economy by designing and manufacturing spacesuits for the future of low Earth orbit and will have the ability to be outfitted for missions on the Lunar surface and beyond. Our teams are honoured to embark upon this journey as they were decades ago when ILC Dover designed and manufactured the Apollo 11 spacesuit used by Neil Armstrong and other astronauts,” Corey Walker, CEO of ILC Dover, said.

“We are honoured to continue being the spacesuit provider for the International Space Station (ISS) and are ready to support humans’ next steps in space exploration and expansion. Leveraging our experience of over 3,000 hours of spacewalks, our spacesuit will provide even more support for our astronauts and ensure their safety while performing missions outside of the ISS,” Patty Stoll, president of Space Systems at ILC Dover, said.