Dry Lubricant Coating Plays A Hand In Man Reaching For Mars

Following the recent successful landings of the 'Opportunity' and 'Spirit' Rovers on Mars, NASA has become more open about its investigations into a potential manned lunar mission and a manned planetary expedition on MARS itself. In fact, NASA recently set up a new exploration office at its headquarters.

Scientists and researchers involved in the study, realizing that a hostile environment will confront long-distance space travelers, have noted the requirement of highly specialized technologies and systems, e.g., durable type suits for protection against events such as the severe dust storms experienced on MARS. In response to the growing likelihood of manned planetary expeditions, ILC Dover of Dover, Delaware, has developed a new generation of spacesuit called the 'I-Suit'.

Since project Apollo, ILC has been the designer and producer of the space suits for NASA (sub-contracted by Hamilton Sundstrand), and the Company has leveraged its expertise in material fabrication to manufacture most of the blimps we see floating above sporting events, and even the inflatable 'balloons' that were responsible for the safe landing of both Mars Rovers. A total of 400 humans have been sent to explore space in ILC Dover suits since the mid-1960s and the next manned mission (slated for April 2005) is Expedition-9, a trip to the International Space Station.