Axiom Space wins NASA contract to build next-generation astronaut spacesuits

Axiom Space wins NASA contract to build next-generation astronaut spacesuits

Press release from: Axiom space
Posted: Wednesday June 1st 2022

Axiom Space announced today that it has been awarded the NASA Extravehicular Activity Services (xEVAS) contract. Axiom is one of two companies to win the award with a potential total value of $3.5 billion over the life of the program. Under the terms of the contract, the Houston-based company will build the space agency’s next-generation astronaut spacesuits that can be used for low Earth orbit (LEO) and Artemis lunar missions. Axiom Space’s new spacesuits will provide astronauts with advanced capabilities for space exploration while providing the NASA commercially developed human systems needed to access, live and work in microgravity and on and around the Moon.

The Axiom spacesuit is key to the company’s commercial space services. This new contract with NASA enables Axiom to build spacesuits that serve the company’s commercial customers and future space station purposes while supporting NASA’s ISS and exploration needs.

“Our innovative xEVAS spacesuit approach provides NASA with a scalable design that enables cost-effective development, testing, training, deployment, and real-time operations to meet a variety of EVA needs and operational scenarios for a range customers, including NASA,” said Michael Suffredini, President and CEO of Axiom Space. “We are extremely pleased that NASA recognizes the value that Axiom Space brings across a range of human spaceflight activities, from our recent private astronaut mission to the ISS to the design and development of the Axiom Station. , and now to the provision of this critical system and associated services. for astronauts in LEO and beyond.

Axiom Space has partnered with a strong team of industry experts on this contract, including KBR, Air-Lock, David Clark Company, Paragon Space Development Corporation, Sophic Synergistics and APT Research.

The Firm Fixed Price Contract is structured as an Indefinite Delivery, Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) award over a 10-year order period and allows two additional years for completion of services. Authorization to perform work under the xEVAS contract will be through the issuance of NASA Task Orders not to exceed $3.1 billion with a cap of $3.5 billion for all services.

Axiom’s xEVAS spacesuits will be designed to accommodate a wide range of crew members. Building on NASA’s xEMU spacesuit design, Axiom spacesuits are created to provide increased flexibility and specialized tools to meet exploration needs and expand science opportunities in space. The xEVAS spacesuit design includes life support, pressure garments and avionics. The Axiom Space team will provide EVA systems training and real-time operations support to NASA, among other services.

NASA may order IDIQ Services at any time after the start of the contract with a performance period beginning in June 2022 and ending in June 2032. There is no transition period and the work will be managed at NASA facilities. Axiom in Houston.

This NASA contract victory is the latest in Axiom Space’s list of recent achievements in its efforts to grow the commercial space industry. Earlier this month, Axiom Space celebrated the grand opening of the company’s new long-term headquarters at Houston Spaceport, which will host the development and construction of Axiom Station, the world’s first commercial space station. Axiom Space also recently welcomed the crew of the Axiom 1 (Ax-1) mission after successfully completing the first fully private astronaut mission to the ISS. The company has also signed agreements with several countries, including Italy, Hungary and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to carry out future space missions.

Axiom Space was founded in Houston in 2016 by space entrepreneur Kam Ghaffarian and Michael Suffredini – NASA’s ISS program manager from 2005 to 2015 – to build the world’s first commercial space station and develop commercial space infrastructure that will drive a thriving economy in low Earth orbit. The company currently employs over 500 people, the majority of whom work at its current Houston facilities and will increase that number to over 1,000 by 2023.

About Axiom Space

Axiom Space, the premier provider of human spaceflight services and developer of human-sized space infrastructure, is driven by the vision of a thriving home in space that benefits every human being, everywhere. Axiom opens up new markets in low Earth orbit by performing end-to-end missions to the International Space Station while privately developing its successor – a permanent Earth orbit commercial destination that will support off-planet human growth and benefit incalculable at home.

Requests: media@axiomspace.com  

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