Naomi Cooper
Collins Aerospace, a subsidiary of Raytheon Technologies, has secured a task order worth at least $97.2 million to provide NASA with a next-generation astronaut spacesuit for use outside the International Space Station.
The task order covers the spacewalking system’s development, critical design review and demonstration on Earth in a simulated space environment, NASA said Friday.
In addition to the Earth-based demo by January 2024, the award includes an option that would involve the testing of the new suit with NASA astronauts during a spacewalk outside the orbital station by April 2026.
Collins Aerospace said in a separate announcement that it will partner with space exploration technology developer ILC Dover and subsea engineering company Oceaneering to develop the spacesuit under the Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services task order.
In May, the Raytheon subsidiary and Axiom secured positions on the potential 12-year, $3.5 billion xEVAS contract for next-generation spacesuit procurement in support of ISS crew members and the Artemis program.
