>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
I'M GARY JORDON.
WE HAVE AN EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT
TO REVEAL THE COMPANIES WHO HAVE
BEEN SELECTED TO MOVE FORWARD IN
DEVELOPING THE NEXT GENERATION
OF SPACESUITS THAT WILL BE USED
FOR HART MUST MISSIONS TO --
ARTEMIS MISSIONS TO THE MOON AND
LOWER EARTH ORBIT.
WE'LL HAVE A PANEL THAT WILL
ANSWER QUESTIONS.
HERE FROM LEFT TO ARE, WE HAVE
VANESSA WHITE, LINDSEY, PROGRAM
EXECUTIVE FOR EHP.
SHE'S COMING IN FROM WASHINGTON
D.C.
AND LAURA, MANAGER OF EHP HERE
AT THE JOHNSON SPACE CENTER.
WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE
AWARDED COMPANIES TO PROVIDE
OPENING REMARKS.
I WON'T SPOIL THE FUN.
I WILL LEAVE THAT TO VANESSA.
WE'LL START WITH INITIAL REMARKS
BEFORE OPENING IT UP FOR
QUESTIONS.
WE'LL TAKE QUESTIONS FROM THE
PHONE BRIDGE.
PRESS STAR 1 TO ENTER INTO THE
CUE.
IF YOU ARE MEDIA, YOU WILL RAISE
YOUR HAND AND SOCIAL MEDIA, #ASK
NASA.
>> WE HAVE BEEN WORKING TO HAVE
NEW EXPLORATION SUIT
CAPABILITIES FOR A NUMBER OF
YEARS.
AND WE WILL HAVE THESE SUITS AND
THEY WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR
US TO SUPPORT THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION AS WELL AS FOR
ARTEMIS MISSIONS GOING FORWARD.
THIS IS A HISTORIC DAY FOR US.
AND THE HISTORY WILL BE MADE
WITH THE SUITS.
WHEN WE GET TO THE MOON, WE'LL
HAVE OUR FIRST PERSON OF COLOR
AND FIRST WOMAN THAT WILL BE
WEARERS AND USERS OF THESE SUITS
IN SPACE.
THIS IS IMPORTANT.
WE HAVE HAD OUR INTERNAL TEAM
WORKING FOR SEVERAL YEARS ON A
GOVERNMENT REFERENCE DESIGN AS
WELL AS TECHNOLOGY THAT WE MADE
AVAILABLE TO THE COMPANIES THAT
SUBMIT PROPOSALS FOR PROVIDING
THIS SERVICE CAPABILITY.
WITHOUT FURTHER ADIEU, I'M HAPPY
TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE AWARDEES
WILL BE AXIOM SPACE AND COLLINS
AEROSPACE INDUSTRY TEAM.
CONGRATULATIONS.
THEY ARE REPRESENTED BY MICHAEL
AND COLLINS AEROSPACE INDUSTRY
TEAM BY DAN.
CONGRATULATIONS.
[APPLAUSE]
SO THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF
CONTRACT IS GOING TO BE A TACK
AWARD.
AS THEY ARE DEVELOPING THE
SERVICE, NASA WILL BE CERTIFYING
ALONG SIDE TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE
READY FOR OUR ASTRONAUTS TO BE A
PART OF THEM.
AND THEN ONCE THE SUITS ARE
READY, THEY WILL BE USED.
THESE CAPABILITIES ARE FOR, AS I
SAID, FOR THE INTERNATIONAL
SPACE STATION AND WE ANTICIPATE
THAT WE WILL CONTINUE OPERATIONS
ON THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION UNTIL 2030.
SO IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE A
CAPABILITY THERE.
FOR ARTEMIS, THE FIRST USE WILL
WISH ON ARTEMIS 3 WHICH WILL BE
THE FIRST LUNAR LANDING FOR OVER
50 YEARS.
IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE
THESE SUITS.
I DO WANT TO ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE
THE PROCUREMENT AND LEGAL TEAM
FOR ALL OF THE HARD WORK THAT
WENT INTO MAKING THIS POSSIBLE.
IT WAS OVER A YEAR'S WORTH OF
WORK TO BE ABLE TO GET THE
PROPOSAL PACKAGES READY TO GO
OUT WITH ALL OF THE
REQUIREMENTS.
OUR ENGINEERING TEAMS HAVE PUT
TOGETHER THE STANDARDS.
AND THOSE REQUIREMENTS AND
STANDARDS NEEDED WERE DEVELOPED
AND THESE PROPOSALS THAT THE
COMPANIES HAVE AGREED THEY ARE
GOING TO MEET THOSE REQUIREMENTS
AND STANDARDS.
WE'LL BE ABLE TO HAVE THESE
CAPABILITIES TESTED AND THEY
WILL BE TESTED BEFORE OUR
ASTRONAUTS ARE BEING USED ON
ORBIT OR SURFACE OF THE MOON.
I WANT TO SHARE, THIS IS A
CREDIBLE TIME IN HUMAN SPACE.
I THINK MOST PEOPLE ARE AWARE
THAT NASA JOHNSON SPACE CENTER
CONTINUES TO BE A CRITICAL HUB
FOR SPACE EXPLORATION.
WE HAVE MISSIONS TODAY GOING ON
AT THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION, LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR
TIME WHEN WE'LL GO TO THE MOON
AND THEN ON TO MARS.
THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU.
LET'S GO TO LINDSEY.
>> SPACESUITS HAVE BEEN A
CRITICAL PART OF EVERY PART OF
OUR SPACE FLIGHT PROGRAMS GOING
BACK TO THE ORIGINAL MISSIONS
WITH MERCURY, GEMINI AND APOLLO.
SPACESUITS ARE A KEY FOCAL
POINT.
AND WHEN WE ARE THERE, THE
CONTRACT IS A CRITICAL
MILESTONE.
WE ARE EXCITED TO REACH THAT
TODAY.
RECENTLY CONGRESS AGREED TO
FORMULATE A NEW PROGRAM HERE AT
THE JOHNSON SPACE CENTER.
THAT PROGRAM IS THE EXPLORATION
EVA, AND AS PART OF THAT PROGRAM
THAT'S MANAGED BY LAURA, WE ARE
GOING TO NOT ONLY DEVELOP THE
SPACESUITS, BUT ALSO THE HUMAN
ROVER SYSTEM.
IT WILL HELP US TO EXPLORE MORE
OF THE MOON THAN EVER BEFORE.
UNDER THAT YOU WILL SEE THE
COMMITMENT THAT IS A HAS TO
DEVELOPING PUBLIC/PRIVATE
PARTNERSHIPS.
UNDER THIS NEW ARRANGEMENT WE
ARE NOT ONLY MEETING NASA'S
OBJECTIVE, BUT HELPING TO
SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE AN
EMERGING SPACE ECONOMY, SO IT'S
NOT JUST NASA, BUT A RANGE OF
CUSTOMERS THAT CAN PURCHASE THAT
IN THE FUTURE.
IT LEADS TO INNOVATION AND MAKE
SURE WE HAVE SUSTAINED
COMPETITION ALONG THE WAY.
TO TALK MORE ABOUT THE CONTRACT,
I WILL TURN IT OVER TO DEENA.
>> THE SPACE STATION PROGRAM IS
EXCITED TO BE HERE TO BE PART OF
THIS ANNOUNCEMENT.
IT'S BEEN THE WORK HORSE FOR THE
AGENCY FOR 40 YEARS.
IT HELPED MAINTAIN AND UTILIZE
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
AS WELL AS CONSTRUCT IT.
SO THE 250 SPACEWALKS THAT OUR
PARTNERS AND WE HAVE DONE ON
BOARD SPACE STATION, 169 HAVE
BEEN WITH THE EXISTING
SPACESUIT.
SO THE SPACESUIT TECHNOLOGY AT
40 YEARS IS NOW AGING.
WE WOULD LIKE TO TRY NEW FUTURE
TECHNOLOGIES.
WE WOULD LIKE TO DO IT IN AN
AFFORDABLE WAY.
THIS CONTRACT IS A GREAT PART OF
OUR STRATEGY FOR ISS FOR
MAINTAINING AND UTILIZING THE
SPACE STATION FOR YEARS TO COME.
THE PROVIDERS WILL BE CERTIFYING
AND DEMONSTRATING THEIR
TECHNOLOGIES FOR NEW SPACESUITS.
WE'LL BE CONDUCTING AN ORDERLY
TRANSITION OVER TO THE NEW
SPACESUIT.
ISS IS A TEST BED AND ESPECIALLY
A TEST BED FOR EXPLORATION.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO
LEARNING WHAT WE CAN ON ISS AND
HANDING IT OVER TO ARTEMIS.
WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH THE PROVIDERS AS
PARTNERS AND BRINGING ISS AND
THEIR SPACESUITS INTO THE MODERN
AGE AND BRING THE AGENCY ON ITS
WAY TO THE MOON.
NEXT UP IS LAURA WHO WILL TALK
ABOUT HER MANAGEMENT OF THIS
CONTRACT AS PART OF THE OVERALL
STRATEGY.
>> THANKS.
GOOD AFTERNOON.
I WANTED TO START BY SAYING
THANK YOU TO THE NASA TEAM AND
INDUSTRY TEAM FOR GETTING US
HERE TODAY.
NASA MENTIONED IT, BUT IT TAKES
A LOT OF HARD WORK AND EFFORT TO
PULL A CONTRACT LIKE THIS
TOGETHER.
I KNOW A LOT OF BLOOD, SWEAT AND
TEARS AND LATE NIGHTS GO INTO
IT.
I WANT TO PUT OUT MY PERSONAL
APPRECIATION TO EVERYONE WHO IS
A PART OF GETTING US HERE TODAY.
AS LINDSEY MENTIONED, THE EHP
PROGRAM, ONE OF OUR GOALS IS TO
LOOK FOR NEW, INNOVATIVE WAYS OF
BEING MORE AFFORDABLE WHILE WE
CONTINUE TO FOCUS ON SAFETY AND
MISSION SUCCESS.
I THINK THIS CONTRACT AND OUR
NEW PARTNERS, WE ARE GOING TO BE
THE FIRST ONES OUT THE GATE IN
THIS PROGRAM WORKING TOWARDS
THAT GOAL.
WE WERE REALLY IMPRESSED WITH
THE PROPOSALS THAT CAME IN, THE
INGENUITY AND INNOVATION WE SAW
IN THE PROPOSALS.
WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT TOGETHER
COLLABORATING WITH OUR PARTNERS
ON OUR NASA TEAM, WE ARE GOING
TO BE SUCCESSFUL.
WE ARE VERY, VERY EXCITED ABOUT
SEEING THESE NEW SUITS OPERATING
ON THE SPACE STATION AND ON THE
MOON.
SO I WANTED TO JUST EXTEND ON
BEHALF OF MY TEAM AND MY
COLLEAGUES IN THE EHP WELCOME TO
OUR NEW KEEP.
WE ARE SUPER EXCITED TO BE
WORKING WITH YOU GUYS.
PUT YOUR RUNNING SHOES ON, IT'S
GOING TO BE A BUSY NEXT FEW
YEARS.
WE ARE READY TO JUMP IN ON THIS
GREAT ADVENTURE WITH YOU GUYS.
CONGRATULATIONS AND WELCOME TO
THE TEAM.
>> THANK YOU, LAURA.
WE'LL GO TO THE COMPANIES
STARTING WITH AXIOM SPACE.
WE HAVE MIKE.
>> FIRST, THANK YOU TO MY NASA
FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES FOR THE
SELECTION AND, AS LAURA SAID,
IT'S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF WORK
TO DO THE PROCESS OF SELECTING
CONTRACTORS AND A TREMENDOUS
AMOUNT OF WORK ON OUR SIDE
CREATING PROPOSALS THOUSANDS OF
PAGES.
MY HATS OFF TO THE NASA TEAM AND
AXIOM TEAM.
WHAT IS IMPORTANT ABOUT TODAY,
WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT, I HAVE
BEEN ON BOTH SIDES, WE TALKED
ABOUT FOR MANY YEARS PUBLIC AND
PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS.
THIS IS REALLY ONE OF THE FIRST
CASES WHERE IT ACTUALLY BENEFITS
BOTH SIDES.
AS THE AGENCY IS TRYING TO PULL
COMMERCIAL TO START DOING
THINGS, IT'S BEEN ABOUT HELPING
COMMERCIAL DEVELOP SO THAT THEY
CAN PROVIDE A PRODUCT THAT THE
AGENCY CAN BUY AND ULTIMATELY
THEY WILL BE ABLE TO SELL AT
SOME POINT.
IN THIS CASE, WE ARE BUILDING A
SPACE STATION.
WE HAVE THE NEED, AXIOM HAS THE
NEED FOR A SPACESUIT.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF CUSTOMERS
THAT WOULD LIKE TO DO A
SPACEWALK.
WE PLANNED TO BUILD A SUIT AS
PART OF OUR PROGRAM.
IT'S FANTASTIC TO HAVE A
PARTNERSHIP WHERE WE CAN BENEFIT
FROM THE YEARS OF EXPERIENCE
THAT NASA HAS AND ALL THE WORK
THEY HAVE DONE TO ADVANCE A
DESIGN TO WHERE IT IS TODAY AND
AS A COMMERCIAL COMPANY, COME IN
AND WORK WITH THEM AND BUILD IT
IN A WAY THAT'S LOWEST COST SO
WE CAN BOTH UTILIZE THE SUIT TO
MEET OUR NEEDS.
WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO BE A PART
OF THIS PARTNERSHIP.
IT'S BENEFICIAL TO US BOTH.
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S
IMPORTANT FOR US THAT WE TELL
PEOPLE AROUND HERE, AXIOM IS A
HOUSTON BASED COMPANY.
EVERYTHING WE DO IS DONE IN
HOUSTON, TEXAS.
OUR SPACECRAFT WILL BE BUILT
HERE, THE SPACESUITS ARE BUILT
IN TEXAS.
THIS INCREASES THE SIZE OF OUR
COMPANY BY A LITTLE OVER 300
PEOPLE.
IT'S A POSITIVE IMPACT TO
HOUSTON AND SURROUNDING AREA AS
WELL.
WE ARE EXCITED TO BE HERE AND
APPRECIATE THE FAITH YOU HAVE IN
US.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> LASTLY, WE HAVE DAN BURBANK
WITH COLLINS AEROSPACE.
>> THANK YOU.
I ECHO WHAT MIKE SAID AND THANK
THE TEAM THAT DID THE
EVALUATIONS.
I WOULD THANK THE ENTIRETY OF
THE NASA TEAM THAT LAID THIS
FOUNDATION.
WE HAVE BEEN PARTNERING TOGETHER
FOR A LONG, LONG TIME.
ON COLLINS, WE INCLUDE IOC AND
WE HAVE OCEAN AND THREE
STRATEGIC PARTNERS.
WE TRY OUR BEST TO HAVE THE END
USER DEEPLY EMBEDDED IN THE
DESIGN ASPECT.
WE CALL THE SPACESUIT THE
WORLD'S SMALLEST SPACECRAFT,
HUMAN SHAPED, HUMAN SIZE.
WE WANT TO BUILD AN IMMERSIVE
ENVIRONMENT THAT GIVES THEM THE
MOST MOBILITY.
SO WE ARE VERY EXCITED TO DO
THIS.
OUR HERITAGE CORPORATIONS WORKED
ON THE APOLLO SUIT AND DESIGNED
AND DEVELOPED AND FIELDED AND
OPERATED THAT APOLLO SUIT.
WE HAVE SOME SURFACE EXPERIENCE.
WE HAVE MORE THAN FOUR DECADES
WITH THE SPACE SHUTTLE.
IN THE PROCESS OF DOING IT, WE
HAVE LEARNED A LOT.
THE GOAL IS TO TAKE THE
FOUNDATIONS AND PARTNERSHIP WITH
INDUSTRY AND EVOLVE THAT
TECHNOLOGY AND CREATE A SUIT
THAT IS COMPATIBLE WITH THE
ENTIRE SPECTRUM OF CREW MEMBERS.
ARTEMIS MAY WAY 120 POUNDS ON
EARTH, SO SHE HAS A SUIT THAT'S
TAILERRED FOR HER AND FEELS LIKE
A RUGGEDIZED EXTREME SPORT.
WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE
OPPORTUNITY TO GO BACK TO THE
MOON AND CREATE A SUIT THAT WILL
WORK FOR THE FOLLOWING YEARS FOR
THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION
AND COMMERCIAL DESTINATIONS AS
WELL.
>> WE ARE NOW GOING TO OPEN IT
UP FOR QUESTIONS.
WE HAVE QUESTIONS ON THE PHONE
LINE AS WELL AS FOLKS HERE IN
THE ROOM AND THEN WE'LL TAKE ASK
NASA QUESTIONS AS WELL.
FOR THOSE ON THE PHONE, PRESS
STAR 1 TO ENTER INTO THE CUE.
STATE WHOM YOU WOULD LIKE TO
DIRECT YOUR QUESTION.
FOR THOSE IN THE ROOM, STATE
YOUR NAME, AFFILIATION AND WHOM
YOU WANT TO DIRECT YOUR
QUESTION.
LET'S START IN THE ROOM.
MARK, IF YOU WANT TO KICK US
OFF.
>> THANK YOU.
MARK WITH AVIATION WEEK.
IS THERE A TARGET DATE FOR
HAVING A PROTOTYPE THAT WOULD BE
READY TO ASSESS ON THE SPACE
STATION?
AND WOULD THAT BE THE KIND OF
KEY MILESTONE IN THIS?
OR WOULD THERE BE SOMETHING ON
THE GROUND THAT MIGHT BE AS
SIGNIFICANT?
>> I CAN START.
SO WE DID REQUIRE THAT THE
INDUSTRY DEMONSTRATE IN WHAT WE
CALL A RELEVANT ENVIRONMENT.
WE ARE LEAVING IT UP TO THEM AS
TO WHAT THAT IS.
VERY WELL COULD BE ON THE SPACE
STATION.
COULD ALSO BE IN SOME KIND OF
COMBINATION OF LUNAR SIMULATING
ENVIRONMENTS HERE ON THE GROUND.
SO THAT IS A MAJOR MILESTONE TO
DEMONSTRATE THAT CAPABILITY
BEFORE WE EXECUTE WHAT WE ARE
CALLING SERVICES UNDER THIS
CONTRACT.
AS FAR AS WHEN, I WOULD PROBABLY
LEAVE IT UP TO YOU GUYS TO
ANSWER A QUESTION AS TO WHEN
THAT OUGHT TO TAKE PLACE.
IN THE NEXT YEAR OR TWO, I WOULD
SAY.
>> I WOULD OFFER UP ONE THING,
MARK.
THE DEVELOPMENT FOR OUR SUIT
RIGHT NOW HAS BEEN CONTINUALLY
ONGOING RIGHT NOW.
IT'S A RAPID, SPIRAL
DEVELOPMENT.
WE DO A DESIGN, BUILD, TEST,
REPEAT AND EVOLVE THE
TECHNOLOGY.
IT WILL BE TESTED IN MORE
FLIGHT-LIKE ENVIRONMENTS
INCLUDING THERMAL VAC.
I WAS IN THE SUIT THIS MORNING.
THE SUIT IS CONSTANTLY EVOLVING
AND THE TECHNOLOGY IS MATURING.
THE GOAL WOULD BE TO BE ABLE TO
MEET NASA'S REQUIREMENTS ON THAT
SCHEDULE, WHETHER THAT'S 2025
FOR SPACE STATION DEMONSTRATION.
I THINK WE ARE WELL ON TRACK TO
DO THAT.
>> DAN IS RIGHT, IT'S MORE THAN
JUST THE DEMONSTRATION.
ALTHOUGH THE DEMONSTRATION IS A
KEY MILESTONE FOR US AND OTHERS
BECAUSE AFTER THAT SUCCESSFUL
DEMONSTRATION, WE SHOULD BE ABLE
TO DO OPERATIONS.
BUT THERE'S PDR AND CDR.
WE DO THOSE WITH NASA.
>> LET'S STAY HERE IN THE ROOM.
STATE YOUR ROOM, AFFILIATION.
>> ABC NEWS.
I DON'T KNOW WHO WANTS TO TAKE
THIS ONE.
IN THE PAST WE HAVE HAD RELIED
ON THE EXISTING SPACESUIT AS A
MIX AND MATCH AND THERE HAVE
BEEN ISSUES WITH WHEN THE
ASTRONAUTS GET IN ORBIT, THE FIT
ISN'T QUITE RIGHT.
HOW WILL THIS GENERATION
SPACESUIT SOLVE THAT PROBLEM?
>> I WILL ASK LAURA TO RESPOND
TO THAT.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING INTERNALLY
DOING WHAT WE CALL ADVANCED
TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT TO LOOK
JUST AT THAT, TO MAKE SURE WE
HAVE SIZING AVAILABLE THAT WILL
FIT THE FIFTH TO THE 95th
PERCENTILE.
ALL THOSE REQUIREMENTS WE PUT
INTO THE CONTRACT.
SO WE'LL HAVE WITH BOTH
COMPANIES.
I WILL LET LAURA SPEAK MORE.
>> WE TRIED HARD IN THIS
ACQUISITION NOT TO SPECIFY THE
HOW, BUT THE WHAT.
WE DID NOT DICTATE TO INDUSTRY
HOW IT SHOULD BE DONE.
WE DID LEVY THE REQUIREMENT THAT
WE FIT A FIFTH PERCENTILE FEMALE
TO 95 PERCENT MALE.
WE BELIEVE THE PROCESS IS AN
ENGINEERING DESIGN PROCESS.
AS THEY ARE GOING THROUGH THAT
PROCESS, WE'LL BE THERE ALONG
SIDE THEM VERIFYING THEY ARE
MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS.
>> THE GOAL IS TO DO IT WITH AS
FEW PARTS AS POSSIBLE.
WE DON'T WANT 20 SUITS ON ORDER.
WE WANT A HANDFUL OF SUITS AND
HAVE THEM VERY MODIFIABLE.
>> FOR US THAT WAS PART OF THE
TEST POINTS FOR TODAY WERE TO
PROVE WE COULD FIT THE TALLER
CREW MEMBERS AND SMALLER CREW
MEMBERS.
IT WAS THE SAME SUIT.
WE DID A RAPID RESIZE.
IT TOOK 30 MINUTES BETWEEN
EVOLUTIONS.
WE WENT FROM SOMEBODY SHORTER
THAN I AM, SHORTER WING SPAN AND
IT WORKED WELL.
THAT'S NOT TO SAY THERE IS NOT
GOING TO BE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE
IT BETTER AND BETTER.
IN APOLLO THEY WERE CUSTOM MADE
FOR THE CREW MEMBERS.
ON SPACE STATION AND SUBTLE, WE
HAVE A MODULAR BASED SPACESUIT.
WE DON'T HAVE A FLEET OF SUITS,
AND TO GET THE CHALLENGE TO HAVE
THE MODULAR APPROACH.
WE HAVE A LINE OF SIGHT ON IT.
IT'S VERY PROMISING.
>> LET'S GO TO THE PHONE NEXT.
IF YOU ARE ON OUR PHONE BRIDGE,
IT'S STAR 1.
LET'S STAR WITH ELIZABETH HOWELL
FROM SPACE.COM.
>> CONGRATULATIONS.
I'M TRYING TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT
HOW THE SPACESUITS WOULD WORK IN
THE SENSE YOU ARE GOING TO TRY
TO DESIGN FOR MICRO-G AT THE ISS
AND ANOTHER ENVIRONMENTS AND
MOON AND ARTEMIS MISSIONS.
ARE WE TALKING TWO DIFFERENT
TYPE OF SPACESUITS?
>> I WILL START AGAIN.
FROM ALL OF THE WORK THAT WE
TALKED ABOUT THAT THE NASA TEAM
HAS DONE, THE REQUIREMENTS SET
FOR LOWER EARTH ORBIT ON SPACE
STATION AND A SUIT ON THE LUNAR
SURFACE IS NOT SIGNIFICANTLY
DIFFERENT PARTICULARLY FOR THE
LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM.
THE DIFFERENCE COMES IN THE
PRESSURE GARMENT.
IN ZERO GRAVITY ON SPACE STATION
VERSUS WALK ON THE MOON WHERE
YOU NEED THE MOBILITY.
AT ITS CORE, THE REQUIREMENT SET
IS GENERALLY THE SAME.
BUT LIKE IN THE PREVIOUS
QUESTION, WE DID NOT DICTATE TO
THEM THAT IT BE ONE SUIT, TWO
SUITS, WE BOUNDED FOR THEM THE,
SAY, UP MASS OR STOWAGE
CONSTRAINTS THEY WOULD HAVE
EITHER IN A LANDER OR ON SPACE
STATION.
YOU ONLY HAVE THIS MUCH ROOM TO
FIT EXTRA PARTS.
HOW WOULD YOU DO THAT.
THAT'S HOW WE WERE ABLE TO AGAIN
THE INNOVATION FROM THE
COMPANIES.
THEY CAN TELL US WHAT THEIR BEST
SOLUTION WOULD BE TO MEET THOSE
TWO DIFFERING ENVIRONMENTS.
>> ONE THING THAT'S VERY
DIFFERENT BETWEEN THE SUITS, I
GUESS I WOULD SAY FIRST OFF,
MASS IS A MUCH BIGGER CONSTRAINT
FOR SURFACE THAN IT IS
MICROGRAVITY.
AS A CREW MEMBER DOING A
SPACEWALK, YOU CAN BE IN A
350-POUND SUIT AND IT'S NOT AN
IMPEDIMENT.
IT COULD ENHANCE, BE MORE STABLE
PLATFORM TO BE ON.
BUT IN A PLANETARY ENVIRONMENT,
WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT
ENVIRONMENT IS NOT AN ENGINEERED
SPACECRAFT DESIGNED FOR A
SPACESUIT DESIGNED FOR THAT
SPACECRAFT.
YOU HAVE TRIP HAZARDS AND A
SURFACE THAT IS NOT AMENABLE TO
EASE OF MOTION.
SO WE WOULD WANT TO HAVE A LOWER
TORSO ASSEMBLY, ENOUGH MOBILITY
TO WALK NATURALLY LIKE THEY WERE
ON PLANET EARTH.
ON SPACE STATION IT'S NOT AN
ESPECIALLY HELPFUL THING.
YOUR LEGS, YOU DON'T REALLY USE
AT ALL.
YOU USE YOUR ARMS TO DO THE EVA
ACTIVITY.
WOULD YOU RATHER PUT YOUR FEET
INTO A FOOT RESTRAINT AND HAVE
LOWER TORSO BE LIKE A PEDESTAL.
A DIFFERENT DESIGN.
THAT CONSTRAINT IS DRIVEN BY THE
LOWER TORSO ASSEMBLY.
LIKE LAURA SAID, THE TECHNOLOGY
ARE VERY SIMILAR.
>> AND THAT'S THE GOAL, TO MAKE
SURE THE SUITS ARE AS SIMILAR AS
CAN BE.
THE OTHER THING IS DUST.
IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS YOU DON'T
HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IN
MICROGRAVITY ENVIRONMENT.
BUT IT'S A BIG PROBLEM ON THE
SURFACE, SO ANOTHER THING WE
HAVE TO DEAL WITH.
>> LET'S GO TO ANDREA WITH
HOUSTON CHRONICLE.
>> THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE
QUESTION.
THIS IS FOR BOTH.
WILL YOU BUILD THE SUITS AT THE
HOUSTON SPACE CORP. AND IS THIS
FROM ANOTHER PART OF THE
COUNTRY?
>> WE'LL BEGIN SUIT WORK AT
FACILITIES HERE IN THE AREA.
WE DON'T MOVE INTO THE BIG SPACE
PORT FOR ANOTHER YEAR AND A HALF
TO GET INTO THE HIGH BAY.
SO WE GOT A LOT OF WORK TO DO
BEFORE THEN.
WE HAVE A FACILITY HERE THAT
ALLOWS THE WORK TO BE DONE TO
START WITH.
ONCE WE BUILD UP THE CAMPUS AT
ELLINGTON, WE'LL MOVE IT OVER
THERE.
>> TO TACKLE THE LAST PART OF
THE QUESTION, FOR THE APOLLO
SUITS AND SPACE SHUTTLE SUIT,
THOSE WERE BUILT IN CONNECTICUT.
HERE THERE IS A NEW FACILITY
GOING IN, 125,000 SQUARE FEET.
A LOT OF THE TECHNOLOGY, THE
DEVELOPMENT PRODUCTION OF ALL OF
THE COMPONENTS OF THE LIFE
SUPPORT SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO
BE MADE IN WINDSOR LOCKS AND OUR
PARTNER COMPANIES AS PART OF THE
COLLINS TEAM, BUT AS WELL AS
SOME OF THE OTHER COLLINS SITES
ELSEWHERE, THE ASSEMBLY,
MAINTENANCE, TESTING, THE
SUSTAINING WILL BE DONE LARGELY
HERE IN HOUSTON.
>> EXCELLENT.
LET'S GO TO DAVID WITH DISCOVER
CHANNEL.
>> THANK YOU, GARY.
FOR THE NASA FOLKS, DID YOU
CONSIDER ONE COMPANY FOR EVAs
AND ANOTHER FOR THE MOON?
COULD YOU STILL DO THAT?
COULD YOU TALK ABOUT THE FACT
THAT THIS IS A SERVICES
CONTRACT, THE COMPANIES OWN THE
SUITS.
AND YOU TALKED ABOUT EVOLUTION.
YOU ARE FAR DOWN THE ROAD ON
SUIT DEVELOPMENT.
WHAT WOULD THOSE EVOLUTIONS BE?
>> I HEARD ABOUT THREE QUESTIONS
IN THERE.
I'M TRYING TO DECIDE WHERE TO
START.
SO MAYBE I WILL START WITH THE
FIRST.
AGAIN, BIG DAY TODAY WITH AXIOM
COLLINS BEING AWARDED THE
CONTRACT.
WE HAVE A STEP AHEAD OF US.
THE WAY THE CONTRACT IS
STRUCTURED, WE WILL PUT OUT TASK
ORDERS FOR THE DEMONSTRATION
PERIODS AND THEY GET THE
OPPORTUNITY TO COMPETE ON THOSE
TASK ORDERS.
AS WE GO THROUGH THAT PROCESS
FOR A TASK ORDER FOR THE
DEMONSTRATION ON SPACE STATION
CAPABILITY, DEMONSTRATION FOR
THE LUNAR CAPABILITY, WE WILL
ACTUALLY RE-EVALUATE THOSE TASK
ORDER PROPOSALS AND DETERMINE
THE BEST APPROACH FOR THOSE
SPACE STATION AND FOR THE MOON.
I KNOW THERE WAS ANOTHER
QUESTION THERE BASICALLY ABOUT
SERVICES.
AS WAS MENTIONED BY BOTH MIKE
AND DAN, YOU KNOW, THE
PUBLIC/PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP IS A
BENEFIT TO NASA.
IT WILL ALLOW US TO HAVE THE
CAPABILITY TO USE AND AS WELL
THEY WILL HAVE IT SO THEY CAN
PROVIDE IT FOR NON-NASA
CUSTOMERS.
IT'S A SHARED INVESTMENT.
WE ARE BOTH GETTING SOMETHING
OUT OF IT.
BUT THIS WILL ALLOW US TO HAVE
SERVICES FOR BOTH THE MOON AND
FOR ISS.
AND THEN THE COMPANIES WILL ALSO
HAVE THE ABILITY TO HAVE OTHER
USERS.
SO THAT ALLOWS US TO BE ABLE TO
SAVE COSTS ON THE GOVERNMENT
SIDE AS WE SHARE THIS
INVESTMENT.
>> I WILL NOW ANSWER YOUR
QUESTION ABOUT EVOLVABILITY.
THE SUITS ARE NOT -- WE HAVEN'T
COMPLETED CRITICAL DESIGN
REVIEWS IT'S CALLED.
THERE IS A LOT OF WORK BEING
DONE ON SUITS AND A LOT OF
TESTING.
DAN TOLD YOU A BUNCH OF THE
STUFF HE'S BEEN INVOLVED IN WITH
PROTOTYPE SUITS.
THERE IS STILL WORK TO FINALIZE
SOME OF THE DESIGN.
YOU GET INFORMED BY THE WORK YOU
ARE DOING WITH TESTING IN SUITS
THAT YOU BUILD UP AS YOU GO.
FROM OUR PERSPECTIVE, YOU DON'T
WANT TO BUILD A SUIT THAT NEVER
EVOLVES.
YOU WANT TO BUILD A SUIT THAT
CAN AEROSPACE INDUSTRY VALVE
OVER TIME.
WE'LL BUILD A SUIT EVERYBODY
WILL BE HAPPY WITH.
WE'LL WANT TO REFINE IT AS WE
LEARN MORE.
WE WANT TO REFINE IT TO KEEP THE
COST DOWN AND DO THE JOB BETTER
OVER THE LIFE OF THE SUIT.
I EXPECT TO SEE THAT OVER TIME
AS IT WILL EVOLVE AS A DESIGN
AND EVOLVE MORE ONCE YOU GET TO
LUNAR SURFACE AS WELL.
>> I WOULD ECHO THAT.
I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANYTHING
IMPROPER OR PROBLEMATIC ABOUT
EVOLVING THE DESIGN.
IN THE DEVELOPMENT STAGE, THAT'S
JUST A NATURAL THING YOU ARE
GOING TO DO.
ALSO WITH RESPECT TO HAVING A
SUIT THAT WOULD WORK FOR ONE
ENVIRONMENT OR THE OTHER, THERE
IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF
OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SYNERGY AND
TO HAVE A SUIT THAT SUPPORTS
MICROGRAVITY REQUIREMENTS AND
THE THINGS YOU LEARN THERE ALSO
HELP TO INFORM THE NATURE OF HOW
THE SUIT WOULD WORK ON THE
PLANETARY SURFACE.
IT HAS TO BE INTEROPERABLE.
ON COMMERCIAL SPACE STATION,
LUNAR LANDER, PRESSURIZED
ROVERS.
THE SUIT HAS TO INTERACT WITH
THOSE.
A LOT OF THOSE DESIGNS FOR THE
FUTURE SYSTEMS AREN'T FULLY
REFINED.
THERE WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
MAKE SURE THAT EVOLUTION OF THE
OPERATABILITY TAKES PLACE.
AND WITH THE HUMAN ELEMENT.
THAT'S CRITICAL.
WE'LL CONTINUE TO LEARN AND
LEARN MORE AS WE GET MORE CREW
MEMBERS IN THE SUIT AND LEARN
HOW TO MAKE IT BETTER FOR THEM.
>> LET'S GO TO JOEY WITH
REUTERS.
>> THANKS.
THIS ONE IS FOR ANY OF THE NASA
REPRESENTATIVES.
WHAT IS THE VALUE OF EACH
CONTRACT AWARDED TODAY?
AND SORRY IF I MISSED SOMETHING
IN THE PAST WITH THIS, WITH THIS
NEW SPACESUIT PROGRAM, WHAT WILL
BE MADE OF NASA'S EX- EMUs
THAT WERE IN DEVELOPMENT?
>> AS FAR AS THE CONTRACT NOW,
THAT INFORMATION IS GOING TO BE
PUBLISHED IN THE SELECTION
STATEMENT THAT'S DUE TO BE OUT
IN LATE JUNE TIME FRAME.
AND AS FAR AS THE XEMU DATA, WE
HAVE OUR TEAM HERE IN HOUSTON
AND CIVIL SERVICE TEAM
CONTINUING TO WORK ON THAT HIGH
FIDELITY ENGINEERING UNIT.
THEY ARE PUTTING IT THROUGH A
LOT OF TESTING.
THE LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEM IS IN A
CHAMBER RUNNING THROUGH TESTS.
PRESSURE GARMENT IS GOING
THROUGH TEST CAN.
JUST LIKE WE HAVE TODAY, WE HAVE
A TECHNICAL LIBRARY THAT'S
AVAILABLE WHERE WE ARE MAKING
ALL OF THE RESULTS FROM THE NASA
TESTS AVAILABLE TO THESE
COMPANIES SO THEY CAN USE ANY
AND ALL OF IT AS THEY CHOOSE.
WE ARE RUNNING THE GOVERNMENT
EFFORT THROUGH THE END OF THIS
FISCAL YEAR.
THEN THE NASA TEAM WILL SHIFT
FOCUS AND BE IN AN INSIGHT,
OVERSIGHT RULE AND IN
COLLABORATION WITH THE PARTNERS.
>> LET'S GO TO KRISTEN FISCHER
WITH CNN.
>> HELLO, EVERYONE.
THANKS FOR TAKING MY QUESTION.
THIS QUESTION IS FOR ANYBODY AT
NASA WHO WANTS IT.
FIRST, I WANT TO CONFIRM THE
TARGET DATE FOR WHEN YOU ALL
HOPE TO HAVE THESE NEW
SPACESUITS FROM ACHES SPACE AND
COLLINS, SOMEONE SAID 2025.
AND GIVEN THE CURRENT CONDITION
OF SUITS, WATER IN HELMETS, WAS
THERE ANY DISCUSSION IF EITHER
OF THESE TWO COMPANIES CAN SPEED
THIS UP IF THE ONES UP THERE
AREN'T WORKING ANY MORE BECAUSE
THEY ARE SO OLD?
>> I GUESS I WILL TAKE THAT ONE.
AGAIN, WE ARE GOING TO
TRANSITION TO SPACESUITS ON ISS
AND DEMONSTRATE THEM AFTER THEY
ARE PROVEN SAFE AND GONE THROUGH
THE MILESTONES AS NECESSARY.
THEY ARE TARGETING MID 2020s.
IT WILL BE ALIGNED WITH THE
SCHEDULES DICTATED BY THE
PROVIDERS.
AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, PRIOR TO
THE ARTEMIS MISSION.
SO STILL CLEARLY SOME SCHEDULE
PIECES ARE STILL BEING WORKED
OUT AND NEED TO BE WORKED WITH
THE PROVIDERS.
IN TERMS OF WATER IN HELMET
INVESTIGATION, I WANT TO SAY
THAT I MENTIONED THAT THE EMU,
CURRENT SPACESUIT, IS THE WORK
HORSE FOR THE AGENCY.
AS YOU MENTIONED, IT'S UNDER
INVESTIGATION RIGHT NOW.
WE HAVE AN EXTREMELY CAPABLE
EXISTING TEAM THAT'S SETTLING
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT THIS POINT
WITH THE SUIT.
WE JUST RECEIVED A STATUS TODAY.
THEY HAVE A LOT OF MITIGATION
TECHNIQUES THEY HAVE LOOKED AT
IN CASE WE HAVE WATER
INTRODUCTION.
LOOKING AT THE SALT TREE FOR THE
SUIT AND TRIED TO IDENTIFY WHERE
THE FAILURES COULD BE.
WE ARE GOING TO BE BRINGING DOWN
ON SpaceX 25 THE SPACESUIT
THAT THE MOST RECENT WATER IN
HELMET AND THE TEAMS WILL LOOK
AT THAT PARTICULAR SUIT.
THE TEAM WILL LOOK AT THAT AND
DO A FORMAL REVIEW, AT WHICH
POINT I'M CONFIDENT WE'LL PASS
THAT, LOOKING AT OTHER
MITIGATIONS AND FIGURE OUT WHAT
THE CAUSE WAS AND BE ABLE TO GET
THROUGH THIS PARTICULAR ISSUE.
THAT SUIT WILL BE ABLE AND
CAPABLE FOR MANY YEARS TO COME
AS WE WORK WITH OUR PROVIDERS IN
THAT TRANSITION.
JUST WANT TO SAY THAT PARTICULAR
SUIT IS STILL PLAN TO BE USED
UNTIL IT IS SAFE TO TRANSITION
OVER TO A NEW SUIT.
>> LET'S GO BACK TO THE PHONE
LINE.
WE HAVE JEFF FAUST WITH SPACE
NEWS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
FOR THE TWO COMPANIES, HOW MUCH
HAVE YOU INVESTED SOFA ARE IN
SUIT DEVELOPMENT AND HOW MUCH
MORE DO YOU PLAN TO INVEST TO
COMPLETE DEVELOPMENT OF THE
SUITS, DOLLAR VALUE OR RELATIVE
TO THE VALUE OF THE NASA AWARD
YOU RECEIVED?
THANKS.
>> LET'S SEE.
THAT'S A DELICATE QUESTION.
LET ME SAY THIS.
I FEEL COMFORTABLE SAYING THIS.
ALL OF THE COSTS TO DEVELOP THE
SUIT IS AXIOM INVESTMENT.
SO THERE YOU GO.
NOW GOT TO FIGURE OUT WHAT THAT
IS.
THAT'S THE AXIOM INVESTMENT
PRIMARILY.
>> FOR THE COLLINS TEAM, I
REPRESENT THE TECHNICAL TEAM
MORE THAN THE PROGRAM.
I DON'T HAVE A FIGURE FOR YOU.
I WOULD SAY THAT THE WORK THAT'S
BEEN GOING ON FOR THE LAST YEAR
OR SO IS THE LATEST VERSION OF A
CONTINUAL INVESTMENT IN INTERNAL
R & D AND CONTRIBUTING THE
CARBON DIOXIDE SCRUBBER, CO2
SENSORS.
IT'S DIFFICULT RIGHT NOW TO BE
ABLE TO TEASE OUT HOW MANY
THINGS ARE ACTUALLY WORK THAT WE
DO THAT SUPPORTS THE EXISTING
EMU OR WORK THAT SUPPORTS THE
DEVELOPMENT OR ONGOING WORK ON
NEXT GENERATION SUITS.
WE HAVE TO GET BACK TO YOU ON
THAT, I THINK.
>> LET'S GO TO DANIEL WITH R
DRONE U.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
CONGRATULATIONS.
THE BIGGEST QUESTION PEOPLE IS
ASKING IN SPANISH IS LOOKING AT
THE NEW SUITS, CAN WE SEE ANY
PROBLEMS OR PICTURES.
WHEN WILL WE SEE THAT?
THANK YOU.
>> THERE ARE DRAWS AND PICTURES.
TODAY THE NASA TEAM, BECAUSE WE
ARE JUST NOW GOING INTO THE
AWARD PROCESS, WE DON'T HAVE
PICTURES TO SHOW.
WHEN WOULD YOU HAVE THEM
AVAILABLE?
>> SHORTLY.
>> SAME.
>> ALL RIGHT.
VERY GOOD.
LET'S GO BACK TO THE PHONE LINE
WITH MICHAEL WITH NATIONAL
GEOGRAPHIC.
>> THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR
DOING THIS.
QUICK QUESTION FOR THE NASA
REPRESENTATIVES HERE.
COULD YOU SPEAK TO KIND OF THE
MILESTONES OR WHAT THE
TURNAROUND WILL LOOK LIKE GOING
FROM A SPACE STATION
DEMONSTRATION TO ARTEMIS 3?
AND THEN FOR THE COMPANIES,
COULD YOU SPEAK TO SPECIFICALLY
HOW YOU ALL ARE LEVERAGING
NASA'S INVESTMENT IN THE XEMU
PROGRAM.
THANK YOU.
>> SO AS FAR AS THE TURNAROUND
AGAIN, I MENTIONED EARLIER, WE
ARE REQUIRING THAT DEMONSTRATION
IN A RELEVANT ENVIRONMENT.
AS VANESSA MENTIONED FOR
ARTEMIS, THE DEMONSTRATION IS
THE ARTEMIS 3 MISSION SO WE ARE
ACTUALLY CALLING THAT FLIGHT THE
DEMONSTRATION MISSION.
SO PRIOR TO THAT, THE ACTUAL
FLIGHT OF THE ARTEMIS 3 MISSION
WE WILL HAVE REQUIRED THESE
FOLKS CAN SHOW US AND VERIFY THE
REQUIREMENTS IN A RELATIVE
ENVIRONMENT EITHER ON THE GROUND
OR ON SPACE STATION.
THE TIMING FOR NOW THAT TURNS
AROUND, I THINK, WILL HAVE TO
PLAY OUT OVER TIME.
AND SEE HOW THEY HIT THEIR
MILESTONES AND HOW QUICKLY WE
ARE READY AND HEADING INTO THE
ARTEMIS 3 MISSION.
>> WELL, I THINK, I ALLUDED THIS
A COUPLE OF TIMES ALREADY, I
THINK IT REALLY BEARS EMPHASIS
THAT THE WORK THAT WAS DONE ON
THE XEMU WITH INDUSTRY AND WE
ARE HAPPY TO HAVE BEEN PART OF
THAT, IS A TREMENDOUS
FOUNDATION.
THAT WORK BASICALLY IS A
TECHNOLOGY TEST BED FOR
EXPLORATION SPACESUIT
TECHNOLOGIES WHICH ALL OF OUR
SOLUTIONS ARE BASED ON.
IT IS A VERY ROBUST FOUNDATION
WITHIN WHICH WE NOW HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO INNOVATE TO DRIVE
DOWN THE MASS, TO DRIVE UP THE
MOBILITY AND COMPATIBILITY WITH
THE HUMAN ELEMENT TO REDUCE THE
VOLUME AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
THERE ARE SOME THINGS ABOUT THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION AND
MAINTAINING THAT WHERE THERE IS
CRITICAL ACTIVITIES WHERE AS BIG
AS THE SPACE STATION IS, THERE
IS SOME TIGHT QUARTERS IN
CERTAIN AREAS.
TO HAVE A SUIT THAT'S COMPATIBLE
WITH THAT ENVIRONMENT IS
IMPORTANT.
BUT FOUNDATIONALLY, THE APPROACH
IS PART AND PARCEL WITH THE PATH
THAT THE XEMU LAID FOR US.
IT'S GREAT TO KNOW THE TEST BEST
IS AVAILABLE AND GREAT TO KNOW
THE RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE
TO PARTNER WITH US.
SO VERY EXCITED ABOUT THAT.
>> I WOULD ADD A COUPLE OF
THINGS.
WE HAVE REQUIREMENTS OURSELVES
THAT HAVE TO BE ACCOMMODATED BY
THE SUIT THAT WE HAVE TO DESIGN.
THE OTHER THING IS THIS IS BEEN
FANTASTIC WORK DONE BY NASA.
WE UTILIZE IT BY THE MAXIMUM
EXTENT POSSIBLE.
EACH COMPANY HAS TO OWN THE
DESIGN, OWN THE INTEGRATED
SAFETY.
WITH THIS CONCEPT THAT'S BEEN
EVOLVED, WE LIKE IT A LOT.
WE HAVE TO NOW GO BACK AND
CERTIFY UNDER OUR OWN CONDITIONS
AND MAKE SURE THE INTEGRATED
SUIT ONCE WE PUT THE PIECES
TOGETHER PERFORM AS ONE PIECE.
DAN SAID IT RIGHT.
THIS IS A GREAT FOUNDATION.
IT INFORMED A LOT OF DECISIONS
ABOUT HOW YOU ENTER THE SUIT,
MOBILITY, SOME OF THE SYSTEM
DESIGNS THAT ARE AMAZING
COMPARED TO THE SUIT, NOT THAT
THE SUIT THAT EXISTS TODAY ISN'T
GREAT, BUT EVOLUTION IS
IMPORTANT.
SOME OF THOSE ARE COMPONENTS WE
CAN GO BUY, SOME ARE COMPONENTS
WE HAVE TO BUILD, SOME WILL LOOK
AND SAY WE'LL DO THIS
DIFFERENTLY BECAUSE IT SAVES
MASS, SAVES SOME OTHER COST OR A
BETTER WAY TO DO IT.
THEN YOU HAVE TO DO THE
ENGINEERING TO INTEGRATE THAT
ALL TOGETHER AS ONE CERTIFIED
DESIGN.
THAT'S THE JOB AHEAD OF US.
BUT THE XEVA SUIT IS PRETTY
AWESOME.
>> LET'S GO BACK TO THE PHONE.
WE HAVE ZACH WITH LAUNCH PAD
NEWS.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
CONGRATULATIONS TO AXIOM AND
COLLINS.
FOR THE NASA REPRESENTATIVES,
WITH TWO COMPANIES BEING
PRESENTED, THIS IS SIMILAR TO
THE COMMERCIAL CREWS.
IS THIS REDUNDANCY, IS IT TWO
DIFFERENT TIMES OR ONE UNIVERSE
OPTION.
AND FOR THE COMPANY, HOW FAR IS
DEVELOPMENT WHEN YOU STARTED
THIS CONTRACT PROCESS OR DID YOU
START AFTER IT WAS ANNOUNCED.
THANK YOU.
>> I THINK IT'S FAIR TO SAY THAT
ESPECIALLY AS WE START, THERE'S
A BENEFIT TO HAVING TWO
COMPANIES.
I DO THINK IT PROVIDES US SOME
REDUNDANCY AS WE GO FORWARD.
WE TALK ABOUT THE TASK ORDERS WE
HAVE YET TO COMPETE AND WE'LL
SEE HOW THOSE FLUSH OUT.
AGAIN, IT KEEPS COMPETITION IN
OUR SYSTEM WHICH WAS ALSO A
GOAL.
SO I THINK BETWEEN THE
COMPETITION TO HELP DRIVE COST
DOWN AND ALSO THE REDUNDANCY,
THOSE WERE A COUPLE OF GOALS.
>> THESE WERE REALLY GOOD
PROPOSALS.
WE ARE VERY PLEASED THAT WE HAVE
AN INDUSTRY THAT IS CAPABLE AND
ABLE TO MAKE THESE KIND OF
SUBMITTALS.
WE ARE VERY PLEASED BY THAT.
>> I THINK LAST QUESTION WAS HOW
LONG HAVE WE BEEN IN DEVELOPMENT
PRIOR TO THIS CONTRACT
ANNOUNCEMENT, THE FINAL RFT IN
ITS CURRENT VERSION.
THAT SPACESUIT EVOLUTION WORK
HAD BEEN ONGOING FOR QUITE A FEW
YEARS BEFORE THAT.
IT FOCUSED IN ON A MORE SPECIFIC
WAY AFTER THE xEVAS.
THE NEED FOR AN OPEN SYSTEM
ARCHITECTURE ENABLED SUIT,
THAT'S SOMETHING WE HAD BEEN
WORKING ON FOR QUITE A WHILE
BEFORE.
>> OUR TEAM, AS WE TALKED ABOUT
BEFORE, WE HAVE BEEN UTILIZING
AS THE XEVA SUIT, MANY OF OUR
TEAM MEMBERS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED
IN THAT ALONG THE WAY AS WELL.
IT STARTS FAIRLY -- A FEW YEARS
BACK.
IT'S IMPORTANT THAT THE DESIGN
WE PROPOSE AND IN THE MIDDLE OF
BUILDING NOW.
>> NEXT, WE HAVE MIKA WITH WALL
STREET JOURNAL.
>> HEY, EVERYBODY.
JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I GOT
THIS RIGHT ABOUT THE CONTRACT
STRUCTURE.
THIS IS FOR LAURA.
IS IT POSSIBLE GIVEN THE WAY
THAT PAST ORDERS WORK THAT ONE
COMPANY COULD WIN ALL OF THEM?
THAT'S ONE.
AND THEN, DAN, I WANTED TO ASK
YOU, MIKA TALKED ABOUT OTHER
CUSTOMERS OUTSIDE OF NASA.
DOES COLLINS HAVE ANY PLANS FOR
CUSTOMER DEVELOPMENT FOR THESE
SUITS BEYOND THE AGENCY?
THANKS.
>> CONTRACT STRUCTURE-WISE, YOU
ARE CORRECT.
ONE COMPANY COULD WIN ALL OF
THEM.
SO WE WILL PUT THE TASK ORDERS
OUT.
WE'LL COMPETE THEM AND EVALUATE
THEM.
WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT OUR
FUNDING AVAILABILITY LOOKS LIKE.
THAT'S ACTUALLY THE GREAT THING
ABOUT THIS CONTRACT AND THE TEAM
THAT PUT IT TOGETHER, IT IS
INCREDIBLY FLEXIBLE.
IT ALLOWS US DECISION-MAKING
GOING AHEAD AS WE SEE HOW THE
TEAMS ARE DOING, ARE THEY
MEETING MILESTONES OR NOT, WHAT
KIND OF FUNDING AVAILABILITY WE
HAVE, WE CAN ACTUALLY MAKE
DECISIONS TO PUT NASA IN THE
BEST POSTURE FOR SUPPORTING BOTH
SPACE STATION AND ARTEMIS.
IT'S DIFFICULT TO SAY EXACTLY
HOW THIS CONTRACT IS GOING TO
EXECUTE.
BUT THAT WAS ON PURPOSE AND BY
DESIGN BECAUSE WE WANT THE
FLEXIBILITY TO BE ABLE TO MAKE
THOSE DECISIONS AS WE SEE HOW
THESE COMPANIES PERFORM.
>> THE QUESTION FOR COLLINS, WE
HAVE ALREADY ENGAGED WITH
SEVERAL OTHER COMPANIES FOR
INTEREST AND FOR INPUTS ON THE
DESIGN.
THE INTENT WOULD BE FOR THE
SPACESUIT TO ENABLE MORE PEOPLE
TO EXPERIENCE SPACE, THE ACTUAL
ENVIRONMENT OF SPACE.
WE THINK TO SUSTAIN A SPACE
STATION LIKE INTERNATIONAL SPACE
STATION OR COMMERCIAL SPACE
STATION TO DO SURFACE
OPERATIONS.
ANYTHING SHORT OF A SPACEWALK
WOULDN'T MEET THE NEED, FOR ALL
THE OTHER CUSTOMERS, YOU WOULD
WANT HUMANITY AND A MUCH GREATER
NUMBER OF PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE
SPACE.
SO THE CHALLENGE BECOMES TO
ACCOMMODATE THE VARIOUS
POTENTIAL CUSTOMERS THAT YOU
HAVE BEYOND NASA IT ACCOMMODATE
THE DIFFERENT ENVIRONMENTS AND
ACCOMMODATE THE DIFFERENT KIND
OF VEHICLES AND SYSTEMS THAT THE
SPACESUIT HAS TO INTERFACE WITH.
JUST THE ENGINEERING, THE NATURE
OF MODULES.
AND THE COMPATIBILITY AND
ACCESSIBILITY MEANS YOU DON'T
HAVE TO HAVE A SINGLE SYSTEM
THAT'S ONLY GOING TO SERVE ONE
PARTICULAR USE CASE.
AND SO THE ABILITY TO HAVE A
WAIST ENTRY VERSION, THE ABILITY
TO HAVE A REAR ENTRY VERSION,
THE ABILITY TO GET EASY ACCESS
TO COMPONENTS, TO BE ABLE TO
ENABLE LOCK UPGRADES AND ADAPT
TO DIFFERENT CUSTOMER NEEDS IS
REALLY IMPORTANT.
OUR GOAL IS TO MAKE A SUIT THAT
CAN DO WITH MINOR MODIFICATIONS,
CAN ACCOMMODATE LOTS OF OTHER
CUSTOMERS.
>> VERY GOOD.
LET'S GO TO THE ROOM.
WE'LL GO TO MARK.
>> THANK YOU.
MARK FROM AVIATION WEEK AGAIN.
I WAS READING THROUGH SOME OF
THE SOLICITATION MATERIALS.
I HAD THE UNDERSTANDING THAT
WHEN THESE TASK ORDERS OR
CONTRACT AGREEMENTS GO FORWARD,
THE COMPANY SELECTED WILL ALSO
STAY WITH THE SUITS IN TERMS OF
DOING MAINTENANCE AND MAYBE EVEN
BE PART OF THE CONTROL TEAMS
THAT PROVIDE OPERATIONAL
SUPPORT.
IF I UNDERSTOOD CORRECTLY, I'M
CHECKING HERE, THIS IS MORE THAN
TAILERRING A SUIT FOR THE PROM,
IT'S ABOUT HOW TO WASH IT, IRON
IT AND WEAR IT AGAIN.
>> THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING AS
WELL, MARK.
THE IDEA WOULD BE YOU ARE
PROVIDING EVA CAPABILITY TO YOUR
CUSTOMERS.
YOU OWN THE ASSETS, YOU OWN THE
DESIGN, DEVELOPMENT, CREW
TRAINING, ON ORBIT OPERATIONS.
OUR TEAM, I FEEL LIKE WE ARE IN
A GOOD SPACE IN THAT AREA.
WE DO DO REALTIME SUPPORT FOR
ALL THE SPACEWALKS WE HAVE ON
STATION.
IT IS ANOTHER LEVEL OF
ENGAGEMENT BY US AS A SERVICE
PROVIDER, FOR SURE.
>> I MIGHT FOLLOW UP ON THAT.
WE WROTE THE CONTRACT THESE
GUYS, LIKE DAN MENTIONED, THEY
OWN THE SUITS, THEY PROVIDE THE
SERVICE, THE EVA SERVICE, BUT
THEY ARE A PART OF OVERALL
CONTROL TEAM AT NASA JOHNSON.
AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE
MISSION IS STILL AN FOD
RESPONSIBILITY, MISSION RISK IS
STILL A NASA RESPONSIBILITY.
THESE GUYS ARE OPERATING IT, WE
ENVISION THEM IN A BACKROOM
SUPPORTING THE FRONT ROOM
MISSION CONTROL SORT OF THING.
THERE IS A LOT OF DEFINITIONS OF
OPERATE, WHAT THAT MEANS.
THEY WILL BE THERE SUPPORTING IT
DURING THE MISSION.
IT'S THE NASA FLIGHT CONTROL
TEAM AND MISSION CONTROL THAT IS
ACTUALLY MAKING THE RISK BASED
AUTHORITY DECISIONS DURING AN
EVA.
>> OKAY.
WE'LL STAY IN THE ROOM HERE.
GO AHEAD, YOU CAN GO FIRST.
>> JUDITH, ABC NEWS.
YOU ARE CONSUMERS FOR THIS ARE
THE ASTRONAUTS, ARE THEY SENDING
YOU WISH LISTS FOR WHAT THEY
WOULD LIKE IN THEIR NEXT
SPACESUIT AND WHAT'S ON THAT
WISH LIST?
>> THAT'S A GREAT POINT.
WE HAVE A SAYING IF YOU WANT
THREE OPINIONS, ASK TWO
ASTRONAUTS.
THERE IS A PROCESS BY WHICH THE
ASTRONAUT OFFICE WOULD DEVELOP A
CREW CONSENSUS REPORT.
YOU HAVE A ROBUST TESTING
CAMPAIGN THAT WOULD INCORPORATE
A NUMBER OF TEST POINTS AND YOU
GET LOTS OF OBJECTIVE DATA THAT
MIGHT BE DATA FROM THE SUITS AND
SO FORTH.
BUT THEN YOU GET A LOT OF
INFORMATION FROM THE CREW IN THE
WAY OF SURVEYS, IN THE WAY OF
WORK LOAD AND THOSE KIND OF
THINGS.
SO FAR WE HAVE BEEN -- THERE'S
THREE OF US THAT HAVE BEEN
DEEPLY INVOLVED IN ALL OF THE
DEVELOPMENT.
WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THE AWARD,
NOW WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO
ENGAGE THE END USER COMMUNITY.
THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF
THIS, TOO.
EVERYBODY DOESN'T GET A VOTE.
THAT WOULDN'T BE PRACTICAL.
BUT THERE IS A WAY THAT WITH THE
CREW CONSENSUS PROCESS TO COME
UP WITH A GOOD SOLUTION.
IT'S NOT JUST THE END USER, IT'S
THE FLIGHT CONTROL COMMUNITY AS
WELL AND ENGINEERING COMMUNITY.
IT'S A GREAT COMMUNITY.
>> I THINK THE ONE THING TO ADD
IS THAT A PART OF THE CONTRACTS
WOULD BE THE AVAILABILITY OF THE
PROPOSERS TO ACCESS THE NASA
EXPERTISE.
SO WHETHER ASTRONAUTS OR OTHER
ENGINEERS, WE HAVE A WAY TO DO
THAT VIA COLLABORATION
AGREEMENT.
WE'LL MAKE THAT AVAILABLE TO
BOTH OF THEM AS WELL AS
FACILITIES THAT WE HAVE HERE
THAT ARE UNIQUE AS WELL.
THE LABORATORY WILL BE MADE
AVAILABLE TO THEM AS WELL.
>> GO AHEAD, ERIC.
>> HI, ERIC.
A COUPLE OF QUESTIONS FOR
LINDSEY OR LAURA.
THE CONTRACTING MECHANISM, THE
PROVIDERS ARE PAID WHEN THEY
PROVIDE SERVICE.
THE CONTRACT AWARD WAS
3.5 BILLION THROUGH 2034 FOR ALL
THE POTENTIAL TASK ORDERS.
AND THAT'S A FEW HUNDRED MILLION
DOLLARS MORE THAN THE FIRST
AWARD THAT NASA GAVE.
I'M WONDERING IN TERMS OF COST,
IT SEEMS LIKE A LUNAR LANDER IS
A MORE COMPLEX SYSTEM THAN A
SPACESUIT.
THIS IS A LONGER PERIOD OF TIME.
BUT MAYBE TALK ABOUT THE VALUE
OF THOSE TASK ORDERS AND WHY IT
IS SO MUCH MORE THAN THE LUNAR
LANDER.
SO TWO QUESTIONS ON THE CONTRACT
PESSIMISM AND THE COST.
-- MECHANISM AND THE COST.
>> PHONE A FRIEND HERE ON THE
COST.
>> [INDISCERNIBLE]
>> START OVER.
>> SORRY.
THANK YOU.
>> YOU ARE GOOD.
>> A LITTLE DIFFERENT THAN THE
ECLIPSE CONTRACT.
THE AGENCY HAS TAKEN HIGH RISK
AND NOT INVESTING IN
DEVELOPMENT.
THE 3.5 BILLION IS A TOTAL
CONTRACT CEILING.
THAT IS NOT THE AWARDED AMOUNT.
WE GUARANTEED AN AMOUNT TO GET
THEM GOING AND HAVE SKIN IN THE
GAME.
WE'LL BE CAREFUL TO PROTECT
THAT.
THESE ARE COMMERCIAL COMPANIES,
SO NASA CAN BE ONE OF MANY
CUSTOMERS.
IT'S DIFFERENT.
NOT APPLES TO ORANGES.
SO THE 3.5 BILLION IS THE
CEILING AND WE HAVE A
DEVELOPMENT PIECE AND RECURRING
SERVICES PIECE.
>> I THINK THE HLS WAS FOR THAT
ONE DEMO PIECE.
>> IT'S FOCUSED ON DEVELOPMENT
RIGHT NOW.
>> YEAH.
>> OKAY.
LET'S SEE IF WE CAN SQUEEZE IN
ONE MORE FROM THE PHONE BRIDGE.
LET'S DO LAUREN.
>> I'M JUST WONDERING GIVEN THE
REPORT FROM NASA'S INSPECTOR
GENERAL ON THE PROBLEMS AND
DELAYS, HOW CONFIDENT ARE YOU
THAT TRANSITIONING TO THIS
COMMERCIAL APPROACH, HOW DOES
MOVING TO A PRIVATE APPROACH
FACILITATE THAT DEADLINE?
THANK YOU.
>> SO I THINK WE HAVE TALKED
SEVERAL TIMES ABOUT ALL OF THE
AXIOM DATA MADE AVAILABLE.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HOW THAT'S
BEING UTILIZED.
I BELIEVE THAT DATA IS HELPING
TO REDUCE THE RISK AND SPEED
THAT TRANSITION PROCESS UP TO
THE CONTRACTOR COMMUNITY.
I ALSO FEEL LIKE MIKE SAID,
GETTING IT IN THEIR HANDS
SOONER, I THINK, IS BETTER.
BECAUSE THEY TAKE OWNERSHIP OF
IT SOONER.
AND SO THEY START TO RUN ON THAT
PATH TO HITTING A DEADLINE.
I THINK WE WERE AT A GREAT PLACE
THAT TRANSITIONS BECAUSE OF HOW
MATURE IT WAS AT THE TIME.
I THINK GETTING IT TO THESE GUYS
SOONER ALLOWS THEM TO RUN.
>> VERY GOOD.
BEFORE WE CLOSE, I DIDN'T WANT
TO TOSS IT TO VANESSA FOR
CLOSING REMARKS.
>> WE WANT TO THANK EVERYONE FOR
BEING HERE TODAY.
WE ARE ALL VERY SUPER EXCITED
ABOUT THIS.
THIS CAPABILITY IS SOMETHING, AS
WE TALKED ABOUT FROM THE
PREVIOUS SUIT FOR 40 YEARS HAS
BEEN THE WORK HORSE AND IT'S
CONTINUING AND IT WILL MOVE
FORWARD.
LIKE WISE, THESE CAPABILITIES WE
SEE ARE GOING TO BE WHAT'S GOING
TO TAKE US AND CONTINUE WITH THE
ISS WILL ALLOW US TO DO ARTEMIS
AND CONTINUE ON TO THE MARS
CAMPAIGN IN TERMS OF TECHNOLOGY
DEMONSTRATIONS WE'LL LEARN FROM
THIS SUIT.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR TEAMS
FOR ALL THE HARD WORK THEY HAVE
PUT IN AND ALSO THIS WOULD NOT
BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT THE SUPPORT
WE GET FROM BOTH OUR
ADMINISTRATION AND OUR
CONGRESSIONAL MEMBERS.
WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO GET
GREAT BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
WE ARE THANKFUL FOR THAT.
I WANT TO SAY TO BOTH TEAM AXIOM
AND TEAM COLLINS,
CONGRATULATIONS AND WE LOOK
FORWARD TO COLLABORATING AND
PARTNERING WITH YOU AS WE GO
FORWARD AND WE RETURN TO THE
MOON AND WE CAN CONTINUE ON THE
INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION.
THANK YOU.
>> VERY GOOD.
THANK YOU.
AND THANKS TO ALL OF OUR
BRIEFERS FOR TAKING TIME TO
ANSWER QUESTIONS TODAY.
THANKS TO ALL WHO WERE ABLE TO
PARTICIPATE IN TODAY'S PRESS
CONFERENCE.
YOU CAN FOLLOW ALONG WITH SOME
OF THE PROGRESS ON THIS AWARD AT
NASA.GOVERNOR/SUITUP.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
THAT WILL WRAP UP TODAY'S