NASA is looking for commercial partners to help develop the next generation of space suits and space walk technology.
In a request for information (RFI) released on April 14, NASA revealed that it is seeking feedback from the space sector on its new updated strategy to work with space partners in space. In this new strategy, NASA is trying to work more closely with business partners in developing, building and maintaining technology for spacewalk or extravehicular (EVA) activities, including space suits, the agency he said in a statement.
Under this new strategy, the agency will “move the acquisition of the extra-vehicle exploration activity system (xEVA) to a model in which NASA will purchase space suit services from trading partners, rather than build them in-house with traditional government contracts.” is shown in the statement. .
This means that NASA will look for commercial space for space suits and related hardware that astronauts will use for missions both in International Space Station and to the moon under NASA The Artemis program, which aims to bring people back to the lunar surface by 2024. NASA added that this equipment and technology will be used for the agency’s plan Gateway monthly space station.
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“We look forward to receiving industry input on the feasibility of changing our space exploration procurement activities to a service-based model, such as our procurement for commercial cargo and crew services,” said Mark Kirasich, associate associate manager for advanced exploration systems. NASA at the agency’s headquarters in Washington, said in the same statement.
“This partnership opportunity will allow NASA and industry to work together as commercial space markets in low Earth orbit and beyond rapid maturation, allowing government investment to accelerate our industry and Artemis exploration plans together.”
This is not the first time NASA has contacted the commercial space sector for collaboration. NASA is currently working with commercial partners such as SpaceX and Boeing to develop and supply crew capsules for missions to the space station. In addition, NASA has just announced that, after a competition between three companies, SpaceX has received the contract to build the monthly lander for the agency’s Artemis program.
“We are always looking for ways to reduce taxpayer costs and focus our efforts and resources on future technology and our bold missions in the deep,” Kirasich said, adding that “NASA has a responsibility to taxpayers and future explorers to re-examine the infrastructure as needed to reduce costs and increase performance, “he said. “As part of this strategy, the agency is opening the door to maximize competition and commercialize space, including space suits and EVA capabilities.”
While NASA will contact commercial space companies and collaborate with this technology in the future, the agency will continue to develop its xEVA system, which includes its xEMU space suit – a new-generation NASA space suit designed “in-house” based on Artemis, NASA said in a statement.
“Our team has developed incredible knowledge of spaceflight and space suit activity over the past few decades and has extensively studied the unique environments in which our astronauts will have to operate,” said Chris Hansen, NASA Space Center’s Office of Extracurricular Activities. from Houston, Houston. in the same statement. “We hope to combine this with the ingenuity of the private sector to enable a versatile EVA capability.”
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