Human Space Flight Systems

Enabling successful missions

Over a period of more than 40 years, we have developed and delivered thousands of products to support NASA and prime contractor intravehicular (IV) and extravehicular activity (EVA). We are a recognized world leader in the design, manufacture, testing, and maintenance of equipment that supports human space flight activities, and we also offer services to train astronauts—thus ensuring successful missions where failure is not an option.  
We have used our expertise to develop multiple systems.
  • A full suite of tools and equipment for assembly, maintenance, and repair of the International Space Station (ISS)
  • Advanced life support systems for human spacecraft and spacesuits
  • Technologies pushing the boundaries of future spacesuit and spacecraft design

Space Station EVA Equipment Sustaining Engineering

We are responsible for the sustaining engineering, EVA mission support, and inventory replenishment for all of NASA’s operational EVA tools and crew aids.

Our responsibility covers more than 5,000 items and 400 unique designs, including the full complement of ISS tools and crew aids. We are tasked with multiple responsibilities.

  • Resolving anomalies and ensuring compliance with requirements
  • Generating and updating hardware flight safety packages for NASA Safety Panel approval
  • Completing equipment upgrades and replacement of equipment in disrepair
  • Supporting EVA mission planning, EVA training, and on-orbit EVA operation activities as they relate to EVA tools and crew aids

Space Station EVA Tools and Equipment

We provide turnkey design, development, manufacturing, testing, and evaluation services for space station EVA tools and equipment. Products built by Oceaneering Space Systems permanently reside aboard the ISS and meet stringent design and manufacturing requirements.
  • Mission-critical safety equipment
  • Crew safety tethers
  • ISS EVA tool stowage devices

Advanced Life Support Technologies:
Spacesuits and Liquid Thermal Garments

Oceaneering has developed spacesuit technology for NASA that will protect astronauts as they perform spacewalks and future lunar surface activities.  NASA—one of our largest customers—has trusted us to protect its astronauts with advanced life-support technologies for nearly 20 years.

 
 
Technology for Spacesuits

Improved shoulder joint and elliptical helmet improves safety, increases comfort, and provides superior mobility.

 
 
Pressure Garments

Rear entry to increase efficiency and safety in executing missions

 
 
Liquid Thermal Garments

State-of-the-art design to increase comfort and safety

 
 
Nitrox Gas Breathing System

Enables astronauts and divers to work underwater longer, deeper, and more safely at NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL)

  Learn more 

Payload and Cargo Equipment Services

Since 1992, Oceaneering has provided high-quality design, development, manufacturing, testing, and operation of hardware that meets the requirements of harsh, pressurized and pressurized space environments.  

Our turnkey approach to development transforms your concepts into ready-to-fly hardware. We have NASA approval authority for safety, stress, and materials analysis. Our product development and support services include a variety of hardware and materials.

  • Cargo bags and containers
  • Logistics platforms
  • Payload facilities
  • Payload latching devices including the GOLD-2 Connector
  • Satellite deployers
  • Spacecraft hardware, such as the ISS nitrogen tank assembly and ISS tool boxes

 
 
Oceaneering-Manufactured SpaceHab OSS (SHOSS) Box

 
 
ISS External Tool Boxes

 
 
GOLD-2 Connector
We oversee and maintain the dive operations and critical systems at NASA’s Sonny Carter Training Facility at the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory. 

GOLD-2 Connector

The General-purpose Oceaneering Latching Device 2 (GOLD-2) provides an innovative, affordable payload attachment system which performs passive and active mechanical, electrical, and data connectivity for International Space Station (ISS) external payloads. The GOLD-2 is the payload interface for two payload platforms on the ISS and consists of two distinct components, the passive and active side assemblies.

  Learn more 

Space photos credit: NASA

Contact Us | Human Space Flight Systems

Company page Since our founding in the early 1960s, Oceaneering has expanded and grown globally to service several industries such as the offshore energy industry, defense, entertainment, material handling, aerospace, science, and renewable energy industries. In 1964, Mike Hughes and Johnny Johnson formed a Gulf of Mexico diving company called World Wide Divers. The company grew in response to increasing demand for their services and in 1969 merged with two other diving companies to form Oceaneering International, Inc. To solve the toughest challenges, we do things differently, creatively, and smarter. As your trusted partner, our unmatched experience and truly innovative portfolio of technologies and solutions give us the flexibility to adapt and evolve, regardless of market conditions. Our mission is to solve the unsolvable. We thrive by creating industry-changing technically creative solutions for the most complex operational challenges under water, on land, and in space. Our five core values establish a common culture and demonstrate what is most important for us as a company. Since the beginning, the company has transformed from a small regional diving company into a global provider of engineered products and services. Today, we develop products and services for use throughout the lifecycle of an offshore oilfield, from drilling to decommissioning. We operate the world's premier fleet of work class ROVs. Additionally, we are a leader in offshore oilfield maintenance services, umbilicals, subsea hardware, and tooling. We also serve the aerospace, defense, and theme park industries. Underpinning everything we do, safety is not only the foundation of our core values, but it is vital to our unmatched performance record and company culture. The industries we serve are as diverse as they are complex. Whether we are engineering deepwater umbilicals or developing robotics for aerospace applications, the safety and health of our employees, vendors, and customers is an integral part of our day-to-day business. If we are working, then our responsibility is to be working safely. Since our inception in 1964, we have placed a high value on employee safety—from diving services and subsea inspection to vessel-based installation operations. We have and will continue to evolve not only our health, safety, and environmental (HSE) processes, but those of the industries in which we work. Although we have been fatality-free since 1999, our HSE journey goes beyond statistics. As our portfolio of services has grown, we have continued to prioritize and advance our approach to HSE.