Based in Newark ILC Dover was selected to be one of two suppliers of Boeing’s Ascent/Entry Suit (AES) for the company’s commercial crew program and has developed an AES space suit for CST-100 Starliner crews.
“We are proud to use our expertise to create a new AES for the Starliner spacecraft,” said Patty Stoll, Chairman of Space Systems and Engineered Solutions at ILC Dover. “After working with the Boeing team on the Starliner landing airbags, which provide a safe and cushioned arrival to Earth from space, we realized the importance of providing another quality product for this program.”
The Boeing AES is based on ILC Dover’s commercial launch, entry and abort suit, FLOOR.
ILC Dover worked with Boeing to adapt the SOL to 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 ILC Dover AES Suit was designed to provide maximum mobility for operating, entering and exiting the spacecraft, as well as providing protection for astronauts in the event of an accident. ’emergency.
“Our success is measured by those we have helped return to Earth safely during more than 50 years of space travel and we will continue to provide spacesuits and soft solutions that will keep astronauts safe in the harsh environment of space,” Stoll said.
In collaboration with ILC’s in-house fashion designer Dover, the spacesuit cover layer was designed with a unique look for Starliner crew members.
A replica of the Starliner AES will be exhibited on florida Space Coast at the new Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex attraction called Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex. ILC Dover and Boeing worked with Adam Savagetelevision personality and longtime special effects designer and maker, to create the replica.
For more information on ILC Dover, Aerospace Activities can be found at www.ilcdover.com/aerospace.
ILC Dover is now headquartered on the University of Delaware’s STAR campus. Its longtime production site, where spacesuits have been made for NASA, is in Frederica, Kent County.
