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Fran DiNuzzo, CEO“We partner with different companies in diverse areas of the space technology to develop several parts of the spacesuits and space habitats,” says Dan Klopp, director of Product Marketing, ILC Dover.
In the spacesuit arena, ILC Dover has partnered with Collins Aerospace for life-support backpacks. To this day, NASA’s astronauts in the international space station (ISS) wear custom-made spacesuits made by ILC Dover. While other spacesuit solutions providers offer suits for intra-vehicular activity (launch and re-entry), ILC Dover is the sole producer of spacesuits for extravehicular (EV) operation.
The EV suit protects astronauts outside the space vehicle by providing optimal conditions so they can not only survive but carry out missions successfully.
Designing and manufacturing EMUs is a daunting task due to the challenge of maintaining pressure, oxygen, providing radiation protection, thermal protection, and micrometeroid impact protection, all while maintaining high mobility. “To that end, the spacesuits we produce are built using high-quality engineering and specialized fabrics to ensure safety of the astronauts,” mentions Klopp.
Based on the mission requirements and objectives, ILC Dover delves into joint engineering effort with NASA to design suits. Previously, the Apollo program had walking spacesuits designed for greater mobility in the lower torso. Since the Apollo moon landings, ILC Dover embarked on making new-age EMU suits for EV activities, which inherently require lesser mobility in the lower torso area. Before handing over the suits to NASA, ILC Dover carries out in-house tests such as repetitive motion test and dexterity test to assess how the outfits react to change in the environment. Further, radiation test and thermal test are conducted jointly with NASA in the vacuum chambers at the Johnson Space Center (JSC). The spacesuits are developed using a thermal garment that protects astronauts in different conditions.
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ILC Dover offers cutting-edge solutions to industries such as pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturing to develop products for personal protection, bulk packaging, aerostats and blimps, and flood protection.
Based on the mission requirements and objectives, ILC Dover delves into joint engineering effort with NASA to design suits. Previously, the Apollo program had walking spacesuits designed for greater mobility in the lower torso. Since the Apollo moon landings, ILC Dover embarked on making new-age EMU suits for EV activities, which inherently require lesser mobility in the lower torso area. Before handing over the suits to NASA, ILC Dover carries out in-house tests such as repetitive motion test and dexterity test to assess how the outfits react to change in the environment. Further, radiation test and thermal test are conducted jointly with NASA in the vacuum chambers at the Johnson Space Center (JSC). The spacesuits are developed using a thermal garment that protects astronauts in different conditions.
Apart from being the primary supplier of spacesuits for NASA, ILC Dover has contributed immensely to the safe landing of rovers. Historically, the company has designed airbag landing systems for NASA’s Mars Pathfinder and Mars Exploration Rover. Recently, the company has developed an airbag system for NASA’s Boeing Starliner space vehicle.
In addition, ILC Dover is expanding its value in the space tech industry with space inflatables developed in partnership with Sierra Nevada Corporation, which is working on a NASA contract to build the deep space gateway. ILC Dover is responsible for designing the outer enclosure of the space vehicle only, which is the inflatable space habitat. Currently, the company is testing a full scale and third scale system at JSC. ILC Dover supports NASA comprehensively by having its engineering team available throughout the mission.
ILC Dover is now working on completely resizable suits. These suits can be custom-tailored by the astronauts while in orbit around the moon and are designed for people who are approximately 5-6.4 feet. Interestingly, as the buzz around space tourism is growing louder, ILC Dover has designed high-tech suits for the individuals, Jessica and Christina, for their first-ever spacewalks. Besides strengthening its partnership with NASA, ILC Dover offers cutting-edge solutions to industries such as pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical manufacturing to develop products for personal protection, bulk packaging, aerostats and blimps, and flood protection.
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ILC Dover
Company
ILC Dover
Management
Fran DiNuzzo, CEO
Description
Packed with a rich history since World War II, ILC Dover accelerates space exploration through continuous innovation and close collaboration with industry partners for developing space suits, inflatable space habitat, and landing airbags. ILC Dover works above and beyond limits to protect people, payloads, and safeguard national security. From spacesuits and space vehicle landing airbags for NASA and commercial astronauts to heavy-lift and passenger airships and surveillance radar aerostats, ILC Dover routinely overcomes technical, logistical, and geographical barriers to engineer advanced solutions that work in the real world
ILC Dover News
ILC Dover Adds New European Manufacturing Location to Meet Growing Demand
The new site follows the Company’s recent announcement to significantly expand production capabilities in its existing Mexico facility in response to unprecedented growth and entry into new biotherapeutic markets. This expansion, in addition to the new facility in Poland, are the latest investments ILC Dover has made to advance the Company’s trajectory in growing its life sciences solutions for its global customer base including the biotherapeutic, cell & gene therapy, and pharmaceutical markets. The new facility in Gliwice, Poland is scheduled to come online in early 2023.
The facility will be home to 250 employees at full capacity – joining ILC Dover’s 2,000+ employees worldwide. It complements the Company’s current global biopharmaceutical manufacturing footprint in Juarez, Mexico, Frederica DE, Durham NC, Stockport UK, Rossens Switzerland, and Blarney Ireland.
“We are very excited to expand our global footprint in Poland with a new manufacturing facility equipped with the capacity to better serve our growing European and APAC customer base,” said Corey Walker, CEO of ILC Dover. “Providing critical solutions to the world’s leading life sciences customers remains top priority as our strategic investments center around ways to improve and optimize their workflows.”