Leidos deploys Potable Water System to International Space Station
(RESTON, Va.) Nov. 7, 2023 – Leidos (NYSE:LDOS), a FORTUNE® 500 science and technology leader, announced the successful deployment of its Exploration Potable Water Dispenser (xPWD) for the International Space Station (ISS). The xPWD is the culmination of nearly three years of design, development, testing and certification work performed by Leidos as part of NASA’s Cargo Mission Contract (CMC).
“Leidos is devoted to solving some of the toughest challenges in space exploration through innovation and determination,” said Grant Kim, Senior Vice President and Operations Manager at Leidos. “This achievement is designed to enable astronauts to sustain quality water in space, while supporting a healthy environment for them to focus on their research.”
The xPWD provides potable-quality water at the proper temperature for both food and beverage rehydration. The updated unit design features the ability to transmit health and status telemetry data to assess overall system performance and allow for system updates through ground commanding. It includes efficient plumbing line architecture and the development of a novel Thermal Expansion Device. This allows for fluid thermal expansion without the use of a bellows or reservoir, which are known places for formation of Biofilm and microbial proliferation.
The xPWD also features a chemical-free Ultraviolet reactor. This addition, designed by AquiSense Technologies, performs point-of-use water disinfection utilizing UV-C LED technology. The UV-C LED reactors enable longer operational lifespans, eliminating the need for frequent servicing or replacement. This is a critical advantage for long-duration missions that last years.
Leidos completed the assembly and certification of the xPWD in December 2022. It delivered the unit for launch on the NG-19 Cygnus spacecraft, which successfully lifted off on August 1, 2023. The xPWD was deployed in its final location aboard the ISS on August 30, 2023, and has since been fully operational serving crew potable water needs.
About Leidos
Leidos is a Fortune 500® technology, engineering, and science solutions and services leader working to solve the world’s toughest challenges in the defense, intelligence, civil, and health markets. The company’s 47,000 employees support vital missions for government and commercial customers. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $14.4 billion for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2022. For more information, visit www.leidos.com.
Certain statements in this announcement constitute “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). These statements are based on management’s current beliefs and expectations and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. These statements are not guarantees of future results or occurrences. A number of factors could cause our actual results, performance, achievements, or industry results to be different from the results, performance, or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These factors include, but are not limited to, the “Risk Factors” set forth in Leidos’ Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 30, 2022, and other such filings that Leidos makes with the SEC from time to time. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Leidos does not undertake to update forward-looking statements to reflect the impact of circumstances or events that arise after the date the forward-looking statements were made.
