Profile of ILC Dover: a Pioneer in Advanced Textiles for Space and the US Military
ILC Dover is a specialist in advanced technologies for the joining and sealing of complex, multiple-layers of so-called "soft-goods" -- such as textiles, films, foils and plastics -- for the production of materials and structures which are capable of withstanding extreme environments. This report provides details of the company's development, corporate structure, manufacturing activities and products -- including spacesuits and inflatable flexible-walled structures for the military and commercial applications. It also provides an outlook for the company in the light of uncertainty about future NAFTA funding, offset by the prospects of increased demand as a result of escalations of military conflicts around the world.
SUMMARY
INTRODUCTION AND COMPANY DEVELOPMENT
COMPANY STRUCTURE
MANUFACTURING SPACESUITS AND OTHER INFLATABLE FLEXIBLE-WALLED STRUCTURES
Bladder
Restraint layer
Thermal protective+F1 layer (TPL)
Recent developments arising from work on spacesuit functionality
Dust mitigation
Radiation protection
Self-healing
Shape morphing
Antimicrobial materials
Power assisted spacesuits
Structural health monitoring
Electronic textiles
Cool Vest
INFLATABLES
Military applications
Advanced technology ballutes
Brilliant anti-tank (BAT) submunition decelerators
Internal structure brilliant anti-tank (BAT) finute
Engineered inflatable floats for extreme environments
The Mark 50 torpedo recovery system
ISIS
Lunar inflatables
OUTLOOK
INTRODUCTION AND COMPANY DEVELOPMENT
COMPANY STRUCTURE
MANUFACTURING SPACESUITS AND OTHER INFLATABLE FLEXIBLE-WALLED STRUCTURES
Bladder
Restraint layer
Thermal protective+F1 layer (TPL)
Recent developments arising from work on spacesuit functionality
Dust mitigation
Radiation protection
Self-healing
Shape morphing
Antimicrobial materials
Power assisted spacesuits
Structural health monitoring
Electronic textiles
Cool Vest
INFLATABLES
Military applications
Advanced technology ballutes
Brilliant anti-tank (BAT) submunition decelerators
Internal structure brilliant anti-tank (BAT) finute
Engineered inflatable floats for extreme environments
The Mark 50 torpedo recovery system
ISIS
Lunar inflatables
OUTLOOK
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1: ILC Dover: milestones in work for NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
Table 2: ILC Dover: milestones in work for the US military
Table 3: ILC Dover: manufacturing activities, by processing type
Table 4: ILC Dover: key developments in inflatables
Table 1: ILC Dover: milestones in work for NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration)
Table 2: ILC Dover: milestones in work for the US military
Table 3: ILC Dover: manufacturing activities, by processing type
Table 4: ILC Dover: key developments in inflatables
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1: Proposed multi-layer fabric construction for ILC Dover’s lunar habitat
Figure 1: Proposed multi-layer fabric construction for ILC Dover’s lunar habitat
