Boeing picks company to manufacture flight suits for passengers on Starliner
ILC Dover’s spacesuits.
Capitalism in space: On May 26th ILC Dover announced it has been chosen by Boeing as one of two companies to manufacture flight suits for passengers on Starliner.
The Boeing AES [Ascent/Entry Suit] is based off ILC Dover’s commercial Launch, Entry, and Abort suit, SOL™. ILC Dover worked with Boeing to tailor SOL for the Starliner spacecraft to provide protection for astronauts during the most critical phases of spaceflight, including launch, docking, re-entry and landing. With over 50 years of spacesuit experience, the AES suit was designed to provide maximum mobility to operate, enter and exit the spacecraft, as well as provide protection for astronauts in case of an emergency.
The black spacesuit on the left in the picture is Dover’s SOL suit, which it is adapting for Boeing. The white suit is the spacewalk suit it has made for NASA for use on ISS, which I also think is the same spacesuit that has for now almost a decade had repeated problems with water leaking into the helmet.
In other words, big space Boeing has hired another big space company to build its Starliner flight suits. I hope ILC Dover does a better job with the AES suit then it has with its EVA suit.
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In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
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ILC Dover’s spacesuits.
Capitalism in space: On May 26th ILC Dover announced it has been chosen by Boeing as one of two companies to manufacture flight suits for passengers on Starliner.
The Boeing AES [Ascent/Entry Suit] is based off ILC Dover’s commercial Launch, Entry, and Abort suit, SOL™. ILC Dover worked with Boeing to tailor SOL for the Starliner spacecraft to provide protection for astronauts during the most critical phases of spaceflight, including launch, docking, re-entry and landing. With over 50 years of spacesuit experience, the AES suit was designed to provide maximum mobility to operate, enter and exit the spacecraft, as well as provide protection for astronauts in case of an emergency.
The black spacesuit on the left in the picture is Dover’s SOL suit, which it is adapting for Boeing. The white suit is the spacewalk suit it has made for NASA for use on ISS, which I also think is the same spacesuit that has for now almost a decade had repeated problems with water leaking into the helmet.
In other words, big space Boeing has hired another big space company to build its Starliner flight suits. I hope ILC Dover does a better job with the AES suit then it has with its EVA suit.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
SOL is an interesting acronym for something designed to keep you alive.
When I was in the Army, “SOL” stood for (bowdlerized), “Sure Out of Luck”. I am not sure that I’d want the suit upon which my life depends in an emergency to be the SOL Suit.
I don’t know about anyone else, but I don’t think I’d want my spacesuit — intended to save me in an emergency — to be called SOL. :)
Oops, didn’t see earlier comment — not trying to steal jokes ;)
I am just curious how they are going to get these capsules into orbit in the near future.
That suit on the right doesn’t look all that much like the current suit as you would see it in actual usage, they obviously removed some stuff and tried to glamorize it a bit for the photo. The suit on the left.. if that’s the glamorized version, ouch. Looks like it’s designed for the people in Wall-E. Especially compared to the SpaceX flight suits, it just lacking any appeal.
Not just a big space company but in the right little state of DE.
George – Did the Big Guy get his 10% ?
Anxiously waiting to see if the FAA has any news on the last day of May.
Soft EVA suits are so last year.
Well actually they have all the disadvantages and none of the advantages,
Why do you need independently mobile legs for an EVA space walk? Its not like your actually walking anyplace. Or even a soft torso, will you be doing a lot of crunches during your spacewalk?
You need a ridged body with two arms and a head.
pzatchokasked: “Why do you need independently mobile legs for an EVA space walk?”
There may be times when it is desirable to place one or both feet into foot restraints. A flexible body could aid in turning to look around when the feet are restrained in this manner. Being able to bend the torso (e.g. bend got reach something at or on the suit’s calves) could also prove to be a benefit. Making a space suit more flexible physically, could make it more flexible operationally.
You can still have a single foot restraint. Why have two?
And you can still have a bit if twist at the waste for reach. But it would be easier to put the twist in the foot restraint system. No atmospheric seals to worry about around the waste.
The only moving seals would be at the arms and those could be changed as needed from outside the suit by another suit.
There is nothing an operator needs to access on the outside of the suit. All tools could be in a separate tool tray/rack.
Or you could make fully functional robotic hands and arms and operate the suit from inside the station.
Without your body inside it it would be far more functional and safe.
pzatchok,
You asked: “You can still have a single foot restraint. Why have two?”
For side-to-side stability, otherwise you are likely to rotate left and right. Think of trying to torque a wrench while standing on one foot.
I still maintain that physical flexibility provides operational flexibility. Limiting motion makes things rigid, which is good for torquing a wrench, but not so good when trying to do other tasks.