Gateway | Summer 2024

GATEWAY

Photo Credit: Voyager Space

Photo Credit: Axiom Space

Photo Credit: Axiom Space

Photo Credit: Ad Astra Rocket Company

ABOVE AND BEYOND THE AEROSPACE STARS OF WEBSTER

NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) is the heart of aerospace in Texas, but the cutting-edge, private aerospace companies in the City of Webster are the arteries that redefine limits and send innovation soaring to new heights. This edition of Gateway is focused on the trailblazing, spacefaring commercial companies that operate within Webster and partner with NASA on monumental, history-making endeavors. Leading private aerospace companies, like Axiom Space, Leidos, Voyager Space, KBR, and Ad Astra Rocket Company operate

inside Webster city limits, collaborating with JSC on contracts ranging from commercial space stations and next-generation spacesuits to the intricate logistics of just about everything astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) touch, wear, consume, and use. Although JSC employs nearly 3,200 federal employees, more than 10,000 contractors in Texas alone support the iconic NASA mission to expand frontiers, complete bold missions, and explore space for the benefit of humanity.

UNIVERSAL SYNERGY

JSC is home to the NASA Astronaut Corps, Mission Control Center, and the International Space Station, Orion, and Gateway programs—complex, high-level human space exploration programs that require painstaking attention to detail and sophisticated expertise. It is the vision of the JSC Office of Procurement to explore and execute innovative, effective, and efficient acquisition business solutions to optimize capabilities and operations that enable NASA’s missions. The Office of Procurement issues Invitations for Bids and Requests for Proposals, soliciting submissions for supplies and services. Once bids and proposals are submitted, a series of processes with the prospective businesses are required, including oral/written discussions, representations, and certifications. A company’s integrity, reliability, quality assurance, safety and health programs, industrial relations, and security clearances are also considered before a decision is made and a contract is executed.

THE COSMIC ALLIES

Science, technology, and engineering enterprise KBR has a 60-year history of handling some of the largest, most critical government projects and programs on land, at sea, in the air, in space, and in cyberspace. The highly trained and certified workforce is passionate about space exploration and scientific breakthroughs and is committed to achieving goals and pushing boundaries. KBR’s remarkable expertise has resulted in significant NASA contracts involving the design, manufacture, and maintenance of spacesuits, the training of astronauts, and the planning and execution of human spaceflight.

American defense, aviation, information technology, and biomedical research company Leidos is a Fortune 500 enterprise committed to making the world safer, healthier, and more efficient. For more than 50 years, Leidos has supported deep space exploration and human spaceflight through technical expertise in IT, engineering, and science. Though headquartered in Virginia, the brilliant minds at Leidos in Webster have supported vital NASA missions through

Photo Credit: Axiom Space

the Cargo Mission Contract, the Research, Engineering, Mission Integration Services Contract, Human Health and Performance Directorate, and more.

Space infrastructure developer Axiom Space is a relatively new aerospace company—founded in 2016—that is stationed in Webster and rocketing to the forefront. Axiom Space may be an emerging enterprise, but its founders and leadership team are made up of individuals who have been involved with every ISS mission since the program’s inception. The team of aerospace all-stars has already procured multi-million-dollar NASA contracts to design and develop new ISS modules and astronaut gear. The company has also created lunar-level buzz for its development of its commercial space station—Axiom Station—which is being constructed in Webster and will ultimately replace the ISS.

Also based in Webster, Voyager Space is a key player in the commercial aerospace sector. Established in 2009, the company was founded as a payload provider to the ISS. Since then, the company has successfully launched over 1,400 research payloads and small satellites, solidifying its position as a leader in the industry. Now, in collaboration with Lockheed Martin, Voyager has been awarded a multi-million-dollar contract by NASA to design its commercial space station—Starlab.

For the past 16 years,Webster has been home to one of the world’s most innovative aerospace firms—Ad Astra Rocket Company. Established in 2005 by Dr. Franklin Chang Díaz, the mastermind behind the groundbreaking VASIMR® (Variable Specific Impulse Magneto-plasma Rocket) engine, this company is synonymous with cutting-edge advancements. Dr. Chang Díaz, who spent over 25 years as a NASA astronaut, embarked on this visionary journey after completing seven Space Shuttle Missions. In 2023, Ad Astra secured two contracts with NASA, furthering the development of the VASIMR® rocket technology, which promises to redefine deep space exploration, offering a high-power electric rocket with a plasma propulsion system.

ASTRONOMICAL ACHIEVEMENTS

As Webster boasts a wealth of aerospace expertise, it is naturally a hub for designing, manufacturing, and maintaining significant, groundbreaking ISS hardware, equipment, and components. The next generation spacesuit bears Axiom Space’s stellar signature; essential hardware like the food warmer and potable water dispenser inside the ISS were specially designed and developed by the Leidos team; the Extra Mobility Units, or spacesuits, helmets, and hardware currently used during spacewalks on the ISS, are the product of KBR’s ingenuity; the trailblazing first permanent, commercial addition to the ISS infrastructure, the Bishop Airlock, was built by Voyager Space in Webster; and Ad Astra Rocket Company leads the future with its VASIMR® rocket engine, which requires a mere fraction of the fuel that accounts for most of a conventional chemical rocket’s mass.

While the ISS orbits about 250 miles above sea level, the visionaries propelling future human space exploration are rooted much closer to home — in Webster.

Photo Credit: KBR

Photo Credit: Ad Astra Rocket Company

Photo Credit: NASA

Photo Credit: Axiom Space

THE SPACE ODYSSEY

THE PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE OF SPACE IN WEBSTER

1961-1963

In 1961, NASA announces Houston as the site selected for the Manned Spacecraft Center, later named the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center (JSC). Heritage KBR company Brown & Root wins the contract for architectural design services for the Center, officially opening in Webster’s backyard in 1963. Today, KBR continues to collaborate with NASA, maintaining a significant presence at JSC.

1969

Apollo 11 astronauts

Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin dispatch the historic message, “The Eagle has landed,” confirming their successful Moon landing to the Mission Control Center just outside Webster.

1984

Congress enacts the Commercial Space Launch Act, reducing barriers for private companies and granting access to government facilities. This Act eventually spurs space commercialization, which lowers costs, boosts innovation, expands access, and creates economic opportunities.

1981-1983

1993-2000

The U.S., Russia, Japan, Canada, and the European Space Agency announce their cooperation to build the International Space Station (ISS) in 1993. The first piece of the ISS is launched in 1998. Over the next two years, additional modules are added, culminating in the arrival of the station’s first crew in 2000.

The first iteration of the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) is introduced in 1981 and used in NASA’s first-ever extravehicular activity (EVA) during the sixth Space Shuttle Mission in 1983.

1968

KBR begins its legacy of working with astronauts when the innovative company is awarded its first contract to conduct cardiovascular health research on astronauts.

2005

Former NASA astronaut Franklin Chang Díaz, a veteran of seven Space Shuttle missions between 1986 and 2002, founds Ad Astra Rocket Company in Webster.

PICTURED ABOVE: KBR Program Director Paul Henry, Mayor Donna Jasso, and KBR EVA Engineer Marques Lynch pose alongside the full EMU spacesuit.

PICTURED ABOVE: Dr. Franklin Chang Díaz and Mayor Donna Jasso discuss the next milestones for the famous VASIMR® rocket engine that has already set new records.

Photo Credit: NASA

Photo Credit: NASA

Photo Credit: NASA

Photo Credit: NASA

Photo Credit: NASA

PICTURED ABOVE: Clothing kits, or “bricks,” clearly marked for two weeks’ worth of wear for an astronaut aboard the ISS, are labeled, packaged, and processed by Leidos employees in Webster.

2011

To ensure the ISS is fully stocked with supplies, Webster aerospace titan Leidos begins supporting the NASA Cargo Mission Contract (CMC). As of 2024, Leidos has shipped over 400,000 pounds of supplies to the ISS through the CMC.

2020

Axiom Space receives a monumental NASA contract to build the first module for what will eventually replace the ISS, and later occupies a 147,000-square-foot facility in Webster to support development. In collaboration with NASA, Axiom Space expects to deliver the first module to the ISS in 2026, followed by three additional modules by 2031.

PICTURED ABOVE: Axiom Space Program Manager

Ricky Villarreal and Chief Technology Officer Dr. Michael Baine update Mayor Donna Jasso on the commercial space company’s impressive NASA contracts.

2022

Axiom Space receives another substantial contract from NASA to develop the next-generation spacesuit, later occupying an additional 180,000-square-foot space in Webster to support the contract. In collaboration with NASA, Axiom Space expects to launch the next-gen spacesuits for Artemis Mission III in 2026, marking the first human landing on the Moon since Apollo 17 in 1972.

PICTURED ABOVE: Axiom Space’s Earth Observatory serves as the backdrop for Executive Vice President Mark Greeley, Vice President Russell Ralson, and Mayor Donna Jasso.

2020

Voyager Space, formerly Nanoracks, makes history by delivering the Bishop Airlock to the ISS. This marks the first permanent commercial addition to the ISS, boasting five times the capacity of government airlocks.

PICTURED LEFT: Mayor Donna Jasso visits with Voyager Space Project Manager Brock Howe to view the Bishop Airlock as it is assembled and tested inside the company’s facility on Forge River Road in Webster.

2022

In a giant leap for commercial aerospace, SpaceX and Axiom Space make history with the launch of Ax-1, the first allprivate mission to the ISS.

PICTURED ABOVE: The Ax-1 astronauts are the first in a new class of pioneers stepping forth to lay the groundwork for Axiom Station. From left to right: Ax-1 Pilot Larry Connor; Commander Michael López-Alegría; Mission Specialist Mark Pathy; and Mission Specialist Eytan Stibbe.

Photo Credit: Axiom Space

GALACTIC TRAILBLAZER

AXIOM SPACE

With established, expert aerospace mavens at the helm, Axiom Space has earned more than one monumental NASA-contracted project. To accomplish such notable feats, Axiom Space operates within two expansive Webster locations, collectively spanning nearly 330,000 square feet. These facilities are the powerful hubs for Axiom Space’s brilliant minds, groundbreaking innovations, and essential resources.

After securing an impressive $140-million contract with NASA to develop at least one habitable commercial space station module to be attached to the International Space Station (ISS), Axiom Space commenced operations at its 147,000-square-foot Space Station Development Facility at 21300 Gulf Freeway in Webster. Within this space, a dynamic team of nearly 1,000 employees are working

together to build Axiom Station, which will be the first human-rated spacecraft built in the Webster region. Axiom Space has the exclusive privilege of connecting its modules to the ISS, marking a significant milestone in commercial space endeavors. As the ISS approaches its retirement around 2031, Axiom Station will become a self-sustaining orbital platform with pressurized and unpressurized payload capacity comparable to its predecessor, the ISS.

BUILDING BLOCKS OF AXIOM STATION

A total of four modules are planned for Axiom Station before it becomes a free-flying commercial destination. Axiom Hab One (AxH1) will serve as the nucleus of future human activities in low-Earth’s orbit, encompassing manufacturing and research capabilities alongside living

PICTURED ABOVE: Axiom Space Chief Technology Officer Dr. Michael Baine, Axiom Space Program Manager Ricky Villarreal, and Mayor Donna Jasso stand beside a life-size mock-up of Axiom Hab One at the Space Station Development Facility in Webster.

quarters for four crew members. Axiom Hab 2 (AxH2) will augment crew quarters and research capacities; the Axiom Research and Manufacturing Facility (AxRMF) will house a cutting-edge research and manufacturing unit; and the Axiom Power Thermal Module (AxPTM) will provide expanded environmental, life support, storage, and payload capabilities.

In collaboration with NASA, Axiom Space has already conducted preliminary and critical design reviews for AxH1 and commissioned global aerospace manufacturer Thales Alenia Space to fabricate and weld the module’s primary structure, slated for completion in Turin, Italy, and arrival in Houston later this year.

Meanwhile, the Webster-based team is diligently focused on developing crucial AxH1 systems, such as life support, guidance, navigation, and propulsion. Axiom Space aims to retain engineering capabilities in-house to foster lasting expertise, benefiting ongoing module construction and space station expansion. Axiom Space anticipates finalizing assembly

and integration and launching the first module in late 2026.

JOURNEY TO THE STARS

By the time ISS concludes its operations around 2031, Axiom Station will be poised to seamlessly adopt and serve the multinational user base, ensuring the uninterrupted continuation of initiatives. Axiom Station will accommodate astronauts, research, and manufacturing, utilizing microgravity-exclusive techniques to foster the growth of various industries. Additionally, it will support expanding space infrastructure, offering a platform for private companies and governments to pursue breakthrough innovations in research and development.

Axiom Space recognizes microgravity as a vast natural resource with the potential to spark groundbreaking scientific breakthroughs. Propelled by the exceptional minds in Webster, Axiom Space is actively working to ignite innovation in space, drive progress on Earth, and unlock numerous benefits for civilization.

PICTURED ABOVE:

This dome-like, glass-walled observatory will have the largest windows ever constructed for space, allowing astronauts to have a 360-degree, unobstructed view of Earth. The Earth Observatory weighs almost 11,000 pounds and will undergo rigorous testing, including pressure tests, leak checks, and trials, to ensure that the acrylic window panes can withstand various elements, including meteoroids and asteroids.

The Earth Observatory will eventually launch with Axiom Station’s third module, AxRMF.

Mayor Donna Jasso views the full-scale mock-up of the Earth Observatory at Axiom Space’s Space Station Development Facility.

A SPACESUIT FOR EVERYONE

The Axiom Space AxEMU spacesuit offers significant benefits for astronauts, space agencies, and commercial space companies. Increased sizing and adjustability provide a superior fit for astronauts while enhancing comfort and capacity to perform tasks.

SHOWN HERE: Since a spacesuit worn on the Moon must be white to reflect heat and protect astronauts from extremely high temperatures, a cover layer is currently used for display purposes only to conceal the suit’s proprietary design.

Photo Credit: Axiom Space

THE NEXT GENERATION SPACESUIT

RETURNING TO THE LUNAR

SURFACE

WITH THE AXIOM SPACE AXEMU

PICTURED ABOVE: Featured here is the white cover layer of the AxEMU spacesuit prototype. Prada’s engineers are working together with Axiom Space to enhance its design, crafting solutions and making it easier for astronauts to kneel and work on the surface of the Moon, a significant improvement from the Apollo era.

Axiom Space solidified its standing as a commercial space leader in 2022 by clinching a remarkable $228.5 million deal to develop NASA’s next-generation astronaut spacesuit—the Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU). Set to support the Artemis III mission in 2026—the first crewed lunar landing since 1972—the suit signifies one small leap for NASA and one giant leap for the commercial space industry.

To meet the demands of this phenomenal contract, Axiom Space expanded its presence and bolstered its workforce in Webster with an extra 180,000-squarefoot space at 600 Gemini Street, where the suit lab facility is located.

COSMIC COUTURE

In March 2023, Axiom Space revealed its AxEMU spacesuit prototype, boasting cutting-edge technology for enhanced performance. Whether navigating the rugged lunar landscape or maneuvering through the weightlessness of space, the AxEMU is engineered to accommodate a diverse crew, including the anticipated first female astronaut to set foot on the Moon in 2026.

In a groundbreaking partnership, Axiom Space teamed with Italian luxury fashion house Prada on the lunar spacesuits. Prada’s engineers are working alongside the Axiom Space Systems Team throughout the design process, developing solutions for materials and designing features to protect against the extreme conditions of space and the lunar environment. The resulting spacesuit will be built to withstand the lunar south pole conditions, which can get as low as -334°F in craters that have

not seen sunlight in billions of years.

Since the unveiling of the AxEMU prototype in 2023, Axiom Space has made significant strides, entering the critical design review phase in June 2024. The suit will undergo rigorous testing in 2024 and 2025, including testing at NASA JSC’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory and in thermal vacuum chambers simulating space conditions.

ESTABLISHING A LUNAR LEGACY

The AxEMU spacesuit is just the beginning of Axiom Space’s ambitious vision for the future of lunar exploration. In April 2024, Axiom Space announced another groundbreaking NASA contract, in partnership with Astrolab, Inc., and Odyssey Space Research, to propel the development of a Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV). Upon completion, the rover, along with the AxEMU spacesuits, will enable Artemis astronauts to explore unchartered territories, opening the door to unprecedented discoveries and scientific breakthroughs.

Together, these visionary commercial aerospace companies, chosen by NASA, stand ready to undertake tasks with a contract totaling a potential $4.6 billion over the next 13 years. This monumental partnership represents a significant milestone in Moon exploration and commercial aerospace, laying the groundwork for a new chapter in the history of space exploration.

As Axiom Space continues to lead the charge from its facilities in Webster, this endeavor is only the beginning of what promises to be an extraordinary journey into the cosmos.

PICTURED ABOVE: Artemis astronauts wearing an AxEMU spacesuit will have greater mobility while navigating lunar operations aboard Astrolab’s Flexible Logistics and Exploration (FLEX) rover. Astronauts can effectively sit, stand, and drive the FLEX rover to conduct science research on the lunar surface.

Photo Credit: Axiom Space

Photo Credit: Axiom Space

GALACTIC TRAILBLAZER

VOYAGER SPACE

The space industry is booming in Webster, as engineers craft commercial space stations for low-Earth orbit, designers pioneer spacesuits fit for Mars and beyond, and new technologies emerge to support space habitats and extended voyages. Amid all of this rocket science, a significant emphasis remains on the physical and mental well-being of space explorers. The challenges are weighty as humans strive to adapt and flourish in a hostile, almost weightless environment.

GROUNDBREAKING INNOVATIONS WITH EARTHLY IMPACTS

Webster’s cutting-edge aerospace firms, like Voyager Space, meticulously devise, analyze, and test every element of the space collateral they create. From optimizing interior

cargo space and innovating water recycling technologies to engineering exterior asteroid-proof windows, out-ofthis-world inventions have enormous ramifications for improving life on Earth. Insights gleaned from space waste disposal could offer valuable solutions to Earth’s escalating trash crisis. Meanwhile, the development of water recycling and purification systems, essential for sustaining life in space habitats, directly tackles one of our planet’s most pressing challenges. Furthermore, the vast energy resources in space—vacuum, electromagnetic, and dark— present the potential to serve as a future energy harvester to meet Earth’s needs.

Space exploration and scientific endeavors have produced impressive technological marvels, including robotic devices and satellites for communication, defense, and science, along

PICTURED ABOVE: Starlab Program Manager Michael Holguin and Voyager Space Vice President of Operations Ron Dunklee visit the company’s stateof-the-art “BRIDGE” mission control center inside the Webster command post. This cutting-edge facility, owned and operated by Voyager Space, maintains direct communication with ISS crews and oversees the seamless operation of customer payloads aboard the ISS.

with everyday innovations like Velcro®, scratch-resistant glasses, memory foam pillows, and cell phone cameras. Additionally, space research has led to the development of practical items such as cordless vacuums and headphones, freeze-dried food, infrared ear thermometers, and so much more. Today, the inventions and advancements made by aerospace engineers and rocket scientists tackle some of humanity’s most arduous challenges and hazards, potentially contributing to the preservation and improvement of our planet. Space travel, exploration, and science undoubtedly unify the globe, as space is the high ground, both literally and figuratively. Voyager Space, formerly Nanoracks, stands out as an exemplary aerospace company with its motto “Your Portal to Space,” embodying the philosophy of space for all by providing space-related services and technologies to the world.

FEDEX TO OUTER SPACE

For nearly two decades, Voyager Space has been at the forefront of space exploration, making history from its facilities on Forge River Road in Webster. With the acquisition of Nanoracks,Voyager revolutionized commercial space logistics, earning the moniker “FedEx to outer space” by developing novel hardware, services, and systems like CubeSat deployers, payload hosting platforms, and the Bishop Airlock. Voyager has forged an incredibly transformative chapter in the commercialization of space, redefining space from the new frontier to a thriving place of business.

The impetus behind the company’s meteoric rise and groundbreaking innovations stems from an increasing global demand for enhanced communications, observation, exploration, and scientific discovery. Voyager stands as the first private aerospace company to collaborate with a full range of countries, governments, agencies, institutions, and businesses worldwide to transport satellites, scientific experiments, communication and observation sensors, and various devices to the International Space Station (ISS) and low-Earth orbit. Since its inception in 2009, Voyager’s exploration team has orchestrated the launch of over 1,400 research payloads and small satellites, solidifying its position as a leader in the industry. An array of clientele, spanning from elementary schools, biopharma companies, and research institutions to nations, universities, businesses, and aerospace firms, entrust Voyager with experiments destined for the ISS to study the effects of microgravity on a wide variety of substances, formulas, compounds, consumables, and matter.

From start to finish, Voyager handles complex paperwork, takes the payload through all three phases of NASA’s rigorous

PICTURED ABOVE: Michael Greer, the Lead Mechanical Engineer for the Trash Deployer System for Voyager Space, demonstrates how the full waste bag fits inside the Bishop Airlock, avoiding the sawtooth edges along the inside edge.

PICTURED ABOVE: Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi tests the Voyager Space Bishop Airlock, the first permanent commercial addition to the ISS infrastructure, following its attachment to the International Space Station in December 2020.

Photo Credit: Voyager Space

Photo Credit: NASA

PICTURED ABOVE: Book Starlab for 2028: reserve your all-inclusive, off-planet trip! Starlab differentiates itself from other commercial space stations in that the single module, individual station will readily lend itself to replication and adaptation—it can be purpose-built for companies or countries and support additional modules. Equipped with windows, docking ports, solar arrays, and thermal control panels, Starlab will stay in orbit and is nimble, versatile, and dedicated to harnessing microgravity, conducting advanced research, and fostering commercial activity. With this single module, only one launch vehicle is needed to be up in operation, whereas bigger space stations require multiple launches and assembly. Space habitats, space laboratories, and space stations are in the works, along with many related activities and advancements, as Voyager innovates, creates, and delivers to make space business-friendly.

safety protocols, manifests the payload for flight on a commercial launch vehicle, runs the on-orbit operations of the payload or experiment, including astronaut crew time, and returns the payload, if needed.

COLLABORATIVE FRONTIERS

Illustrating Voyager’s commitment to global collaboration with academia and international space agencies, the Saudi Space Agency and Voyager Space worked with over 1,000 students to send experiments in NanoLab kits to the ISS in May 2023. In real-time, students were able to eagerly watch as astronauts performed the experiments in space. Voyager’s dedication to exploration knows no bounds—even extending outside the ISS with an external experimentation platform.

Voyager also plays a significant role in NASA’s HUNCH

(High Schools United with NASA to Create Hardware) Program, empowering students to design and fabricate products for space. From hardware to soft goods—such as a culinary challenge that sends a winning meal to the ISS crew—Voyager fosters innovation and collaboration among budding scientists and engineers.

A NEW DOORWAY TO SPACE

In a landmark achievement for the space industry,Voyager’s Bishop Airlock ushered in a new era for the space industry in 2020, literally opening the doors of the ISS to the world and becoming the first commercially developed and privately owned component installed on the ISS. Five times larger than its predecessors, the Bishop Airlock is bigger, bolder, and more user-friendly—facilitating movement between the internal space station environment and the vacuum of space.

Photo Credit: Voyager Space

NEXT GENERATION SPACE DESTINATION

With its unprecedented advancements spanning space logistics, portals, hardware, robotics, satellites, and engineering, Voyager is on track to develop a space station through NASA’s Commercial Low-Earth Orbit Development Program. Starlab, a joint venture among Voyager, Airbus, and Mitsubishi Corporation under the ‘Starlab Space’ banner, will be a single module station measuring approximately eight meters by eight meters hosting a rotating crew of up to four astronauts who will inhabit the station for six months at a time, while also accommodating tourists for two-week visits.

This multi-floor laboratory will maximize space efficiency, boasting dedicated research and payload areas, along with essential crew accommodations, including a galley, exercise space, and leisure quarters. Voyager collaborations extend beyond traditional aerospace partners, with interest, support, and excitement from companies, like Hilton to design and develop crew quarters and production companies to create entertainment and sporting events in space for future platforms.

BRIDGING ENTERTAINMENT AND SPACE

In a groundbreaking collaboration, Voyager joined forces with entertainment powerhouse Madison Square Garden (MSG) to capture extremely high-resolution photography for Sphere in Las Vegas. The MSG Sphere Studios’ team, alongside the masterminds at Voyager and astronauts aboard the ISS, embarked on three missions to validate custom camera technology. The specially crafted cameras captured in-space activities used in immersive experiences within Sphere’s expansive dome. The captivating images are also used on the exterior 580,000-square-foot LED display and the 160,000-square-foot indoor display, which has stunned audiences since the venue’s first-ever show in September 2023.

With innovative strategies and diverse partnerships, Voyager heralds a new era in space exploration, promising both scientific advancement and transformative experiences. As Starlab emerges as a hub of innovation and collaboration, Voyager is not just launching a station; it’s igniting a revolution that will shape humanity’s destiny among the stars.

PICTURED

Madison Square Garden’s Sphere in Las Vegas offers immersive experiences on an unmatched scale. As the world’s largest spherical structure, its creation was made possible by Voyager Space’s cutting-edge expertise, including advancements in camera and lens technology engineered to capture ultra-high-resolution images with unparalleled detail, setting a new standard for visual immersion.

ABOVE:

Photo Credit: Voyager Space

PICTURED ABOVE: Research, Engineering, and Mission Integration Services (REMIS) Program Manager Adam Wheeler and his team utilize the Leidos Operations Center from the Webster office to provide vital support to ISS crews as they conduct pioneering space research experiments.

GALACTIC TRAILBLAZER LEIDOS

From a 75,000-square-foot facility on Forge River Road in Webster, the Leidos Space Exploration and Mission Operations (SEMO) Division brings space closer than ever, providing vital day-to-day and long-range support for the International Space Station (ISS), commercial spaceflight, planned Moon and Mars missions, and future deep space exploration.

Since 2018, Leidos’ Webster facility has employed a team of 250 scientists, engineers, and logistics specialists. The mission is to provide support across three pivotal NASA initiatives—the Research, Engineering, and Mission Integration Services (REMIS) Contract, the Human Health & Performance Contract (HHPC), and the Cargo Mission Contract (CMC). These contracts support extensive services including mission operations, research and engineering, payload processing, and

delivery of services and hardware while driving innovation in science, technology, and aeronautics.

SPACE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING: LEIDOS’ HHPC CONTRACT

Leidos’ work on HHPC focuses on astronauts’ health, safety, and well-being during space missions, including long-duration spaceflight to destinations, such as the ISS and, eventually, Mars. This work encompasses five major areas advancing understanding of human physiology and performance in space environments:

• Research Operations, Integration, and Data: Human research operations and data analysis that includes training and systems integration on the ISS, commercial astronaut expeditions, and comparable missions that replicate harsh space conditions.

• Space Radiation Analysis: Developing the next generation of radiation detection, shielding, modeling, and risk assessments for ISS and future platforms for missions on the Moon, Mars, and deep space.

• Space Food Production and Research: Producing and packaging flight food products for delivery to ISS and analog missions and supporting food systems development for nextgen exploration vehicles and planetary habitations.

• Space Flight Hardware and Integration: Performing design, fabrication, testing, and operation of research and medical support hardware and supplies to ISS and delivering mission-critical spaceflight hardware and software for the upcoming NASA Artemis missions.

• Human Factors Support and Research: Providing expertise and research support in suit design, vehicle outfitting, spacecraft lighting, payload human factors, and NASA human standards for planned and projected missions.

Drawing on the results of Leidos’ expertise in space travelers’ well-being has helped NASA conceptualize future space habitats. For example, Leidos’ research has shown that exercise and hydration help offset bone density loss and kidney stones, while proper physical space and lighting levels are essential for mental health. Accordingly, NASA designs now incorporate exercise equipment, ample water purification and supply systems, and comfortable, well-lit environs that accommodate a yearlong residency, allowing residents to thrive even in a challenging, zerogravity environment. In addition, for

Gateway—the lunar orbital platform that will bring astronauts to the Moon to operate a space station and serve as a base for deep space exploration—Leidos developed, tested, and delivered the navigation and alignment aids essential for the safe docking of various modules.

ADVANCING SPACE SCIENCE: LEIDOS’ REMIS CONTRACT

Of course, the reason for sending astronauts to space is to conduct space science, and this is where Leidos’ REMIS Contract comes into play. Leidos facilitates the science, which ranges from the design and development of hardware and software to mission operations aboard the ISS. Leidos works closely with principal and payload investigators from universities, companies, and agencies to evaluate their experiments and requirements; assess how procedures and equipment will be used from the ground to orbit; train the crew, if necessary, to execute the experiments; and support the crew in experimenting.

Leidos provides this real-time science operations management from the Leidos Operations Center (LOC) in Webster, using advanced cameras for instant, sharp imagery. To coincide with the astronauts’ Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) workday, the LOC predominantly functions from 2 a.m. to 10 a.m. Two recent experiments involved studying cancer cells in space and analyzing how cement solidifies in microgravity, as cement could be used for lunar construction and space manufacturing. Other experiments include studying crystal growth, protein growth, and cell growth—all necessary to combat exposure to microgravity and radiation.

PICTURED ABOVE: Cargo Mission Contract (CMC) Program Manager Ernest Sanchez showcases the Leidos-developed Exploration Potable Water Dispenser (xPWD), delivered to the ISS in August 2023. This device provides high-quality water at the right temperature for food, beverage rehydration, and other crew products. After rigorous design, development, testing and certification as part of NASA’s Cargo Mission Contract, the xPWD features a chemical-free ultraviolet reactor and eliminates the use of a reservoir (preventing biofilm and microbial growth).

PICTURED ABOVE: Sanchez showcases the Galley Food Warmer, designed and developed by Leidos. Space food is processed in a way that eliminates the need for refrigeration. As a result, it is ready to eat and easy to prepare. Crew members can heat food products in the food warmer, which, in addition to the rehydration process, may take 20 to 30 minutes. Astronaut food is specially prepared, processed, and packaged for microgravity conditions that can withstand space travel. Most space food comes in flexible packaging to minimize up-mass volume and maintain the quality of the food.

PICTURED ABOVE: CMC Program Manager Ernest Sanchez visits the cargo processing room, where

astronauts aboard the ISS. Each brick is packaged and labeled and contains a range of essentials, including clothing, food, and equipment. Among the

pictured are food items like tortillas, vegetables, and soups, all bound for space.

DAILY SUPPORT: LEIDOS’ CARGO MISSION CONTRACT

Daily support is an even greater focus of the Cargo Mission Contract. In some ways, astronauts embark on the ultimate camping trip, where every item they touch, wear, consume, assemble, test, and study, from tortillas and toothpaste to laptops and spacesuits, must be brought to them at fixed intervals. Leidos ships more than 35,000 pounds of cargo annually to the ISS, including crew provisions, hand tools, equipment, cameras, batteries, power supplies, research experiments, and ISS hardware. The bulk of these items is developed at various facilities and sent to Leidos’ Webster team for packaging, labeling, testing, and packing in accordance with stringent inventory tracking information, safety protocols, and human factors standards.

Inside Leidos’ facility, CMC employees undertake rigorous measures to assemble, process, inventory, label, test, image, certify, and integrate hardware and science that reaches space travelers. Packing supplies inside the main cargo

processing room include bubble bags, Ziploc® and Velcro® fasteners, cargo transfer bags in various sizes to hold just about everything, and special shipping containers and lifts to handle heavy equipment. Custom foam enclosures made in the Foam Operations Lab help protect flight hardware and cargo against unique environmental hazards from launch to ISS delivery. For use in space, decals, labels, and placards, created in the Decal Lab using NASA flight-approved materials, aid astronauts in the precise sequencing for safe unpacking, setup, and operations.

Deciding what to send is a complex calculation influenced by numerous factors, such as size, weight, and composition, as every ounce counts toward health and safety, operability in zero gravity, and even comfort and relaxation. For example, as there is not yet a method for cleaning clothes on the space station, the astronauts receive a predetermined set of clothing for the duration of their mission. A Leidos soft goods development team tailors and alters the clothing, such as replacing buttons with Velcro® closures. Astronauts can also choose

Leidos employees prepare kits, or “bricks,” for

bricks

among their favorite brands of hygiene products, such as shampoo, toothpaste, and deodorant, which are then fitted with a Velcro® backing for use in zero-G. Considerations such as nutrition, digestibility, dietary conditions, and shelf life also apply to the food sent to the astronauts. A fourpound bag labeled “fruits and nuts,” for example, contains individual bags of almonds, apples with spice, applesauce, berry medley, cashews, dried apricots, dried pears, fruit cocktail, macadamia nuts, peaches, peanut butter, peanuts, and more—clearly listed in alphabetical order with tracking or inventory number.

In addition to the items Leidos receives from external sources, the Cargo Mission Services Development team also designs, tests, and manufactures flight and non-flight hardware and supplies, including Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) and Intro-Vehicular Activity (IVA) hardware systems. The ISS food warmer, passive cold stowage box, xPWD, and next-generation cargo lockers are Leidos innovations that enhance space living. Also, Leidos designed a camera covering that allows an astronaut’s huge, thick protective glove to handle and activate buttons on the camera during a spacewalk.

Another facet of Leidos’ logistics support is the responsibility for handling and disposing of returning payloads. This includes processing time-sensitive or temperature-critical experiments, research materials, and system hardware, as well as cleaning and refurbishing other used gear and equipment.

FORGING A PATHWAY TO THE STARS

The operations of the three Leidos contracts provide numerous synergies that improve support for all aspects of the space program. For example, the discoveries on HHPC regarding space voyagers’ health and performance directly influence the research conducted on REMIS and the items developed and shipped on CMC. Scientific breakthroughs during REMIS operations often involve collaboration with the CMC team who thrives on solving complex problems with innovative solutions to meet customers’ objectives. These situations frequently blur lines between scientists and engineers, and Leidos personnel across the board have the expertise and ingenuity to integrate processes and services.

Leidos’ extensive experience and monumental advancements in cargo mission services, research engineering, mission integration services, and human health and performance services hold significant ramifications for the future. Just as astronauts on the ISS require regular deliveries of experiment equipment, spare parts, food, air, and water, those who venture deeper into space will also need resupply and new modes of processing, packaging, recycling, and harvesting essentials. From its home base in Webster, Leidos stands poised to continue supporting NASA and commercial ventures in developing and sustaining planned and projected programs, such as Orion, Gateway, and Artemis that will take astronauts to the Moon, Mars, and deep space to live, work, and thrive.

FROM SPOOLS TO SCHEMATICS: LEIDOS EMPLOYS A TAPESTRY OF TALENT

PICTURED ABOVE: From the Engineering Lab, Leidos Engineering Technician Mark Archer fine-tunes an Electronic Power Utility Panel destined for use on the ISS.

PICTURED ABOVE: Leidos Sewing Technician Cynthia Ayala expertly stitches an absorption pad for the interior of an astronaut’s helmet. This pad serves a crucial purpose, absorbing any water that might inadvertently find its way into the helmet during space missions.

GALACTIC TRAILBLAZER AD ASTRA

Since 2005, Webster has been home to one of the world’s most innovative aerospace firms, Ad Astra Rocket Company. Dr. Franklin Chang Díaz, inventor of the VASIMR® (Variable Specific Impulse Magneto-plasma Rocket) engine, founded Ad Astra Rocket Company after serving for more than 25 years as a NASA astronaut. Chang Díaz, a veteran of seven Space Shuttle Missions, credits his tenure as an astronaut and work at MIT in the late 1970s to developing plasma rocket propulsion—a revolutionary solution to in-space transportation issues—proving sustainable, efficient highpower propulsion.

Ad Astra Rocket Company’s VASIMR® advanced highpower electric plasma propulsion system complements the array of space stations and exploration voyages planned by private and public companies and governments, especially for deep space travel. The immense scalability and versatility of the VASIMR® engine will be transformative for the space industry. As humanity ventures further into deep

space exploration, the limitations of traditional chemical propulsion are becoming increasingly apparent. Chemical propulsion falls short in cost and efficiency compared to electric propulsion in space transportation. Today’s inspace operations are performed with highly reliable and fuel-efficient low-power electric propulsion. The VASIMR® engine offers the same proven benefits of electric propulsion for in-space transportation, but with the critical feature of high power. In the realm of high-power electric propulsion, the VASIMR® is currently the most advanced in development.

In 2021, Ad Astra completed a NASA NEXTStep contract milestone, demonstrating the endurance of its high-power propulsion system in a rigorous 88-hour test within a vacuum chamber at the Webster facility. This milestone, unprecedented in high-power electric propulsion, underscores the engine’s resilience and reliability under demanding conditions, setting a new standard for the industry.

PICTURED ABOVE: Former NASA Astronaut Dr. Franklin Chang Díaz stands proudly beside his groundbreaking creation, the VASIMR® engine—a testament to decades of innovation in propulsion technology. With its remarkable capabilities, achieving tenfold the performance of chemical rockets while using only a fraction of the fuel, the VASIMR® engine marks a transformative milestone in the quest for faster, more efficient space travel.

Photo Credit: Ad Astra Rocket Company

With over 10,000 firings at the Webster laboratory and a wealth of successful tests, the Ad Astra team is confident in the physics and engineering prowess behind the VASIMR® engine and poised to transition into the construction phase of a spaceflight prototype.

The engine’s utilization of plasma, an electrically charged gas superheated by radio waves and controlled by strong magnetic fields, exemplifies its exceptional design and performance capabilities. The VASIMR® engine’s twostage process, converting gas into plasma and subsequently accelerating it to produce high-speed exhaust, facilitates unparalleled efficiency and power in propulsion. By utilizing naturally occurring gases, like argon or hydrogen, the engine circumvents the cost constraints associated with alternative propellants, such as Xenon, commonly used in low-power electric propulsion systems. This innovative approach enhances affordability and emphasizes the engine’s versatility across a spectrum of mission profiles.

HARE AND TORTOISE | CHEMICAL AND PLASMA

Eagerness and excitement surrounding space travel and missions to Mars have been reignited. However, a journey to Mars (191.9 million miles away) is exponentially farther than the Moon (238,900 miles away), so new technology is required to get there. A journey to Mars with humans aboard using conventional chemical or even thermal nuclear propulsion has already proven insufficient and unsafe. NASA released a Mars Transportation Assessment Study in 2023, concluding that electric propulsion paired with a nuclear power source is the most viable option for deep space travel.

The VASIMR technology, while already demonstrating its capability to enhance the space economy with solar power in low-Earth orbit and cislunar space, holds immense potential for scaling up to power-intensive (multiple megawatts) missions to Mars and beyond, and awaits the development of nuclear electric propulsion technology for space, which is still underway.

The journey to Mars, like the classic tale of the tortoise and the hare, poignantly illustrates the transformative potential of the VASIMR® engine in comparison to a chemical rocket.

• Lift off into orbit for the space vehicle powered by the chemical rocket is splashy, momentous, spectacular, and quick. There’s a loud explosion and a super speedy exit that makes thrust from the propellant—and there’s a lot of propellant in the rocket engine, which reduces the amount of cargo space, habitat space, and supplies for the crew, as chemical propellant is heavy and massive.

• Once the chemical rocket reaches orbit, there’s no turning back—even if a problem arises. The chemical rocket in orbit proceeds at a steady pace, as there is no

atmosphere, no friction, no wind. The speed cannot be manipulated.The chemical rocket is carrying propellant reserved for the return trip.

• Arrival from Earth to Mars via the chemical rocket takes about eight months. The return trip can be made only when the sun is not in the way—or, perhaps, three years round trip—start to finish.

• Lift off into orbit for the space vehicle powered by VASIMR® is not so splashy or loud, as VASIMR® is the tortoise that ultimately wins the race. VASIMR® powers a crew vehicle that is much roomier, as electricity doesn’t need the space that chemistry requires.

• VASIMR® is always on—it never has to be turned off. And, in orbit with no atmosphere, no friction, and no wind, it keeps accelerating. In fact, about halfway to Mars, VASIMR® will have to be fired backward to slow it down, so it doesn’t overshoot Mars.The farther VASIMR® goes, the faster it goes—it builds up speed.

• Arrival from Earth to Mars via VASIMR® takes about 45 days. The ramifications for crew safety and supplies, as well as the return trip logistics, are monumental. VASIMR®, unlike the chemical rocket, has the power to move among orbits—which represents a phenomenal and life-saving feat, as there is so much that is unknown about space travel. The ability to shift to another orbit in the face of hazards is game-changing. Changing orbits takes a lot of power—power that VASIMR® can provide, as VASIMR® is always on.

PICTURED ABOVE: Ad Astra Rocket Company’s VASIMR® propulsion system can be configured to a variety of applications from cargo transport to deep space exploration.

Photo Credit: Ad Astra Rocket Company

THE FUTURE OF SPACEFLIGHT

Dr. Franklin Chang Díaz showcases the VASIMR® rocket engine under development in Webster. The VASIMR® engine, boasting versatility, efficiency, and power, promises to spearhead a revolution in the space economy, offering accessible and cost-effective in-space transportation solutions.

Photo Credit: Ad Astra Rocket Company

DELIVERY IN CISLUNAR SPACE

EXPRESS SHIPPING VS HEAVY FREIGHT

Currently, there is a significant focus on cislunar space, which encompasses the area between the Earth and the Moon or within the Moon’s orbit, driven by many commercial, civil, and military objectives. This region boasts valuable resources such as water, helium-3, rare earth metals, and regolith and is densely populated with satellites.

NASA’s Gateway program aims to establish a space station in lunar orbit within this decade, alongside crewed missions to space outposts for exploration of the lunar surface and beyond. While transporting small quantities of supplies to the Moon via chemical rockets (express shipping) is relatively swift and feasible, VASIMR® propulsion (bulk shipping) emerges as the preferred choice for transporting heavy cargo, bulk resources, and oversized freight, owing to its fuel efficiency and power.

VASIMR®’s utilization for heavy-load transport promises heightened costeffectiveness and efficiency compared to chemical rockets, which require costly propellants that encroach on available cargo space.

PROPELLING BEYOND LIFTOFF

The potential of VASIMR® extends beyond propulsion, offering innovative solutions to pressing challenges, such as space debris mitigation. Ad Astra Rocket Company partnered with Leo Labs to establish a space radar to track live satellites and space debris. Space debris, as small as a quarter traveling 17,000 mph, can collide with other space debris and cause significant damage and, quite possibly, a massive chain reaction.

VASIMR® has the capacity and power to pick up the larger pieces of unused satellites and space debris from multiple

orbits without the high fuel cost, which safeguards critical assets and personnel in space.

Additionally, the ISS typically requires a significant amount of expensive rocket fuel—about $210 million worth—for its annual orbital reboost. However, if VASIMR® were attached to the ISS and its solar power system, only a small amount of fuel, approximately 300 kilograms of argon, would be needed to achieve the same orbital adjustment. Furthermore, VASIMR® offers the capability to maneuver the ISS into different or higher orbits, showcasing the remarkable efficiency and potential of this advanced propulsion system.

FROM LAB TO LAUNCH

VASIMR® has undergone rigorous testing and achieved significant milestones. Pending sufficient funding, Ad Astra aims to design, construct, and test its first spaceflight prototype in the coming years. Transitioning VASIMR® to TRL-6 for space field testing is a priority, requiring financial support from NASA, other government agencies, and private partnerships.

Ad Astra Rocket Company’s endeavors reflect brilliance, fortitude, innovation, and experience. Powerful plasma propulsion is revolutionizing in-space transportation, essential for fast human transport to Mars and opening the solar system to exploration and settlement. From its facility in Webster,Ad Astra is dedicated to solving in-space logistics challenges with the VASIMR® high-power electric rocket engine with advanced plasma propulsion system, addressing areas like lunar outpost resupplies, orbital debris removal, refueling, servicing, and repositioning of satellites, and enabling rapid robotic and human deep space missions.

PICTURED ABOVE: The Ad Astra engine bus is a vacuum chamber that replicates space-like conditions for testing the VASIMR® rocket engine. This innovative structure allows aerospace experts to communicate with and control the engine during firing under vacuum, pushing the boundaries of propulsion technology.

PICTURED ABOVE: The engine firing within the bus-sized vacuum chamber at Ad Astra’s Webster headquarters reveals a striking blueish light emitted by the argon plasma plume, reaching temperatures as hot as the sun.

Photo Credit: Ad Astra Rocket Company

Photo Credit: Ad Astra Rocket Company

PICTURED ABOVE: KBR EVA Suit Operations Contract Program Manager Paul

and

Engineer Marques Lynch showcase the hard upper torso (HUT) module of the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU). The HUT connects the internal workings of the suit with the appropriate systems in the portable life support system—a sophisticated backpack providing electricity for the carbon dioxide removal system, water tank, and two-way radio. At the core of the HUT lies the display control module, housing a control panel responsible for managing the backpack’s functionalities, effectively acting as the command center for the EMU.

GALACTIC TRAILBLAZER KBR

Amid a legacy of collaboration with every U.S. astronaut since 1968, KBR’s famous roots date back to the inception of human spaceflight. Today, KBR is one of the world’s largest human spaceflight support companies dedicated to addressing this millennium’s most pressing space challenges and contributing to every operational aspect of NASA’s human spaceflight program.

As a powerhouse in science, technology, and engineering, KBR boasts a workforce of nearly 35,000 individuals across more than 30 countries, engaged in diverse, complex, and mission-critical roles. KBR’s presence spans nine NASA centers and facilities, including Johnson Space Center (JSC), where it executes International Space Station (ISS)

operations and provides 24/7 real-time human spaceflight command and control from the Mission Control Center. In Webster, more than 100 dedicated employees work tirelessly behind the scenes at KBR’s Houston Engineering, Logistics, and Operations (HELO) manufacturing lab, as well as just outside Webster at the JSC Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL), to support vital NASA contracts, including developing, processing, and refurbishing NASA spacesuits and related components used on the ISS.

ASTRONAUT ATTIRE: THE EMU

The NASA spacesuit, known as the Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU), consists of 18 separate components. When

Henry, Mayor Donna Jasso,

KBR EVA

fully assembled, it functions as a “personal spaceship” for astronauts, offering environmental protection, mobility, and life support during spacewalks. The original EMU made its debut during the Space Shuttle Program in the 1980s, and the current iteration is the culmination of years of research and development. This highly complex suit provides pressure, thermal, and micrometeoroid protection, along with essential supplies such as oxygen, cooling water, drinking water, food, waste collection (including carbon dioxide removal), electrical power, and communications. Featuring a modular design with many interchangeable parts, the EMU accommodates astronauts of varying heights and builds, with major components like the upper torso, lower torso, arms, and gloves available in various sizes.

TAILORED FOR COSMIC COMFORT

Ensuring a proper fit is paramount to minimizing the risk of exhaustion during a spacewalk. Even a slight misalignment, such as a centimeter difference in arm length, can lead to major discomfort after several hours in space. To guarantee the suit fits properly, KBR’s engineers take precise measurements and conduct body scans to determine each astronaut’s correct sizing. The fully assembled EMU, weighing 300 pounds, is then adjusted and placed on a donning stand to allow for a fit check. Once sized, astronauts can begin spacesuit and hardware training with the KBR team at the NBL.

Situated at the bottom of the NBL’s 40-foot, 6.2-milliongallon indoor pool is a full-scale replica of the ISS, allowing trainees to experience neutral buoyancy, which simulates the microgravity environment of space. This training allows astronauts to hone their skills, practice numerous tasks, and familiarize themselves with the tools required for spacewalks before ever leaving Earth, ensuring the suit fits comfortably during all activities. Achieving an optimal suit fit is a collaborative and interactive process, requiring open communication between the crew members and KBR suit engineers. Throughout training, KBR suit engineers continuously optimize the suit for maximum comfort and performance.

Once the astronauts are in space and before any spacewalk, KBR conducts an on-orbit fit verification with the crew to identify issues, recommend modifications, and perform system checks. During this exercise, the crew suits up, pressurizes the suit, and provides feedback regarding its fit to ground control. Throughout the spacewalk, KBR

remains on-site at NASA’s JSC mission control, providing continuous support to the astronauts.

CELESTIAL TUNE-UP

At least four complete and functional EMUs are kept on the ISS at all times. Ground maintenance is required for each EMU after six years in orbit or every 25 EVAs, whichever comes first. Upon their return to Earth, the EMUs are transported to the KBR office in Webster for evaluation. In a pristine, controlled environment, the spacesuits are carefully disassembled by KBR suit engineers donning smocks to prevent contamination and ensure the performance and integrity of the equipment.

As part of the certification process, and after reassembly at KBR, the spacesuits undergo a rigorous vacuum certification process involving several hours of manned operation in a vacuum chamber to ensure their readiness for future space missions.

HANDS-ON PROTECTION THE VITAL ROLE OF EVA GLOVES

During extravehicular activity (EVA), gloves (pictured here with Mayor Donna Jasso and KBR EVA Engineer Marques Lynch) are crucial for building and maintaining the space station. Astronauts rely on these critical gloves to traverse the exterior of the ISS, moving hand-over-hand along strategically positioned handrails. However, sharp edges outside the ISS pose inherent risks. Regular inspections are conducted during each spacewalk to assess the glove’s condition, as even minor damage, like a quarter-inch cut, can compromise safety. KBR’s dedication to maintaining the glove’s functionality and resilience is paramount for the safety and success of spacewalks.

INTERSTELLAR INNOVATION

THE EVOLUTION OF SPACESUIT TECHNOLOGY

The current EMUs and associated EVA systems are the byproducts of years of research and development and have become powerful tools for orbital operations. However, they are not the pinnacle of spacesuit technology, as they are refurbished and partially redesigned suits from the Space Shuttle Program over 45 years ago.

Over the past two decades, NASA has been actively researching and developing advanced spacesuit technology, leading to the creation of a prototype known as the Exploration Extravehicular Mobility Unit (xEMU). In 2022, NASA selected Axiom Space to develop the next-generation spacesuits that will be used for ISS spacewalks and Artemis Moonwalks, and KBR was made a key partner in the endeavor. Within the Axiom Space facility on Gemini Street in Webster, KBR employees support the manufacturing, designing, and testing of the new suits. The Axiom Extravehicular Mobility Unit (AxEMU) builds on NASA’s xEMU prototype, integrating the latest technology, enhanced mobility, and increased protection against lunar hazards.

This commercial partnership with NASA empowers Axiom Space and KBR to create nextgeneration astronaut spacesuits tailored for commercial customers, private astronauts, and future space station objectives while meeting NASA’s

requirements for the ISS and Artemis lunar exploration missions. KBR’s expertise and dedication are instrumental in advancing spacesuit technology and ensuring the success of NASA’s ambitious goals for space exploration.

KBR’S SPACEFARING FUTURE

In July 2023, KBR secured a monumental $1.9 billion NASA contract to continue support for NASA’s human spaceflight programs, including the ISS, Artemis, and low-Earth orbit commercialization. Under JSC’s Flight Operations Directorate, KBR will contribute to mission planning and preparation, astronaut and mission control center training, real-time flight execution, and future exploration vehicle design across all of NASA’s human spaceflight programs. The five-year Integrated Mission Operations Contract III (IMOC III) encompasses services through September 2028, with the potential for a contract extension through September 2032.

KBR is a pivotal force in human spaceflight, deeply rooted in history and continuously evolving to meet the challenges of tomorrow. Fueled by recent contracts and collaborative endeavors, KBR and its extraordinary team in Webster are poised to lead humanity into a new era of discovery and achievement in the cosmos.

PICTURED ABOVE: On October 18, 2019, NASA Astronauts Jessica Meir and Christina Koch made history with the first-ever all-female spacewalk, performing routine maintenance outside the ISS. KBR played a pivotal role in this milestone through its contributions to spacesuit development and maintenance. Behind the scenes at NASA, KBR employees are instrumental in identifying sizes for all suit components, maintaining suit data, testing and evaluating parts, and providing support in suit training, which are crucial steps before any spacewalk.

PICTURED ABOVE: Inside the pristine lab at KBR’s Webster office, technicians carefully test, process, and maintain EVA spacesuits. Clad in smocks to maintain stringent cleanliness standards, these technicians conduct thorough inspections of every aspect of the spacesuits, guaranteeing optimal functionality and safety for astronauts during their missions in orbit.

Photo Credit: KBR

Photo Credit: NASA

STELLAR SHIELD: THE EMU HELMET

The EMU helmet is vital for astronaut safety during spacewalks, with its pressure bubble and ventilation system ensuring oxygen supply and protection. The protective visor shields against scratches, while the gold-coated sun visor acts as sunglasses. Recently, KBR assisted NASA in developing helmet absorption pad extenders (HAP-E) and a helmet absorption band (HAB) to prevent water accumulation. These small but mighty inventions highlight KBR’s crucial role in advancing astronaut safety and space exploration.

CITY COUNCIL