Collins Aerospace in Talks to Exit NASA Spacesuit Contract
RTX Corp subsidiary Collins Aerospace is negotiating with NASA to withdraw from its contract to build new spacesuits for astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS). This development poses a setback for NASA, which has been grappling with outdated spacewalking suits for decades.
Background of the Contract
In 2022, NASA awarded $3.5 billion to Collins Aerospace and Axiom Space for developing new spacesuits for the ISS and future moon missions. Collins received an initial $97 million for ISS suit development, with the possibility of additional funds for lunar spacesuit development. However, progress has been slow, and Collins is now discussing winding down its role in the program.
Statement from Collins Aerospace
A Collins Aerospace spokeswoman stated, “After a thorough evaluation, Collins Aerospace and NASA mutually agreed to descope Exploration Extravehicular Activity Services (xEVAS) task orders.” NASA has not yet commented on the situation.
Challenges with Current Spacesuits
NASA’s struggle with its decades-old spacesuits has been ongoing. These complex systems are essentially human-shaped spacecraft that U.S. astronauts use for routine repairs outside the ISS, approximately 250 miles (400 km) above Earth. Recent cancellations of planned spacewalks due to suit malfunctions highlight the urgency of updating these suits. On 13 June, a planned spacewalk was canceled due to a “spacesuit discomfort issue.” A subsequent attempt on 17 June was aborted due to a water leak in U.S. astronaut Tracy Dyson’s suit, forcing her to report, “There’s water everywhere … I got an arctic blast all over my visor.”
Future of NASA’s Spacesuit Program
With Collins potentially exiting the program, the responsibility for developing new spacesuits may fall to Axiom Space. This startup is already managing astronaut flights and building its own space station. However, Axiom has not yet commented on the matter.
Key Points
- Collins Aerospace is negotiating with NASA to withdraw from the spacesuit contract.
- NASA awarded $3.5 billion to Collins and Axiom Space in 2022 for spacesuit development.
- Collins’ progress has been slow, and the company is discussing winding down its role.
- NASA’s outdated spacesuits have caused recent spacewalk cancellations.
- Responsibility for new spacesuit development may shift to Axiom Space.