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{{short description|Space suit used in Apollo and Skylab missions}}
[[File:Apollo 11 space suit.jpg|thumb
The '''Apollo/Skylab space suit''' (sometimes called the '''Apollo 11 Spacesuit''' because it was most known for being used in the [[Apollo 11|Apollo 11 Mission]]) is a class of [[space suit]]s used in [[Apollo program|Apollo]] and [[Skylab]] missions. The names for both the Apollo and Skylab space suits were Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU).<ref name="us">{{cite book |title= US Spacesuits |author1=Kenneth S. Thomas |author2=Harold J. McMann |year= 2006 |publisher= Praxis Publishing Ltd. |___location= Chichester, UK |isbn= 0-387-27919-9 | pages = 428–435 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=cdO2-4szcdgC }}</ref> The Apollo EMUs consisted of a Pressure Suit Assembly (PSA) aka "suit" and a [[Primary life support system|Portable Life Support System]] (PLSS) that was more commonly called the "backpack".<ref name="us1">{{cite book |title= US Spacesuits |author1=Kenneth S. Thomas |author2=Harold J. McMann |year= 2006 |publisher= Praxis Publishing Ltd. |___location= Chichester, UK |isbn= 0-387-27919-9 | pages = 428–433 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=cdO2-4szcdgC }}</ref> The A7L was the PSA model used on the Apollo 7 through 14 missions.<ref name="us2">{{cite book |title= US Spacesuits |author1=Kenneth S. Thomas |author2=Harold J. McMann |year= 2006 |publisher= Praxis Publishing Ltd. |___location= Chichester, UK |isbn= 0-387-27919-9 | pages = 428–429 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=cdO2-4szcdgC }}</ref>
The subsequent Apollo 15-17 lunar missions,<ref name="us3">{{cite book |title= US Spacesuits |author1=Kenneth S. Thomas |author2=Harold J. McMann |year= 2006 |publisher= Praxis Publishing Ltd. |___location= Chichester, UK |isbn= 0-387-27919-9 | pages = 430–431 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=cdO2-4szcdgC }}</ref> Skylab,<ref name="us4">{{cite book |title= US Spacesuits |author1=Kenneth S. Thomas |author2=Harold J. McMann |year= 2006 |publisher= Praxis Publishing Ltd. |___location= Chichester, UK |isbn= 0-387-27919-9 | pages = 432–433 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=cdO2-4szcdgC }}</ref> and [[
The suits used during lunar EVAs had a weight of about {{cvt|81.6|kg|lbs}}, and under lunar surface gravity a weight equivalent to {{cvt|13.6|kg|lbs}}.<ref name="Kluger 2018 z081">{{cite magazine | last=Kluger | first=Jeffrey | title=How Neil Armstrong's Moon Spacesuit Was Preserved for Centuries to Come | magazine=Time | date=October 12, 2018 | url=https://time.com/5422609/armstrong-spacesuit-smithsonian/ | access-date=November 29, 2023}}</ref> The low surface gravity and suit pressurization put considerable constraints on its use.<ref name="Nast 2013 v237">{{cite magazine | title=How Do You Pick Up Something on the Moon? | magazine=WIRED | date=December 9, 2013 | url=https://www.wired.com/2013/12/how-do-you-pick-up-something-on-the-moon/ | access-date=November 29, 2023}}</ref>
== Basic design <!--DO NOT capitalize the word "design" here -- see the Manual of Style---> ==
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The base Apollo EMU design took over three years to produce.
NASA held a competition for the Apollo SSA contract in March 1962. Each competition proposal had to demonstrate all the abilities needed to develop and produce the entire SSA. Many contractor-teams submitted proposals. Two gained NASA interest. The Hamilton Standard Division of United Aircraft Corporation proposal offered Hamilton providing the SSA program management and PLSS with David Clark Company as the PGA provider. The International Latex Corporation (ILC) proposal planned International Latex as the SSA program manager and PGA manufacturer, Republic Aviation providing additional suit experience and Westinghouse providing the PLSS.
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Hamilton and International Latex were never able to form an effective working relationship. In March 1965, Hamilton switched to B. F. Goodrich as suit supplier.<ref name=tjtm>{{cite book |title= The Journey To Moonwalking |author=Kenneth S. Thomas |year= 2017 |publisher= Curtis Press |___location= Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, UK |isbn= 9-780993-400223 | pages = 99–103 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=cdO2-4szcdgC }}</ref> International Latex, in July 1965, won the Block II suit competition with its A5L design. This forced NASA to assume management of the Block II EMU program directly.<ref name=tjtm88-114>{{cite book |title= The Journey To Moonwalking |author=Kenneth S. Thomas |year= 2017 |publisher= Curtis Press |___location= Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, UK |isbn= 9-780993-400223 | pages = 88–114| url= https://books.google.com/books?id=cdO2-4szcdgC }}</ref> Before the end of 1965, Hamilton Standard completed certification of its new backpack.<ref name=tjtm80-87>{{cite book |title= The Journey To Moonwalking |author=Kenneth S. Thomas |year= 2017 |publisher= Curtis Press |___location= Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, UK |isbn= 9-780993-400223 | pages = 80–87 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=cdO2-4szcdgC }}</ref> NASA subsequently terminated the Block II AiResearch backpack, thus completing the selection of the suit/backpack designs and suppliers to support man's first walking on the Moon. However, this was not to be without improvements. The Apollo 11 EMU featured an A7L suit with a -6 (dash six) backpack reflecting seven suit and six backpack design iterations.<ref name="us2"/> The A7L was a rear entry suit made in two versions. The Extra-vehicular (EV), which would be used on the Moon and the Command Module Pilot (CMP) that was a simpler garment.<ref name="us"/>
The ILC Dover team, however, collaborated quite well. Douglas N. Lantry, a scholar of the spacesuit manufacture in the Apollo era, notes that the teamwork displayed by the seamstresses creating the spacesuits demonstrated the effectiveness of overlapping and cross-training on each others' specialties and expertise.<ref>Lantry, D. N. (1995). Man in Machine: Apollo-Era Space Suits as Artifacts of Technology and Culture. ''Winterthur Portfolio'', ''30''(4), 203–230. <nowiki>http://www.jstor.org/stable/4618514</nowiki></ref> This team of seamstresses, led by [[Hazel Fellows]], included [[Iona Allen]], Delema Austin, Doris Boisey, Julia Brown, Delema Comegys, Joanne Thompson, Michelle Trice, Jeanne Wilson, and Delores Zeroles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dr. Emily A. Margolis Recognizes Women in STEM {{!}} Smithsonian American Women's History Museum |url=https://womenshistory.si.edu/blog/dr-emily-margolis-recognizes-women-stem |access-date=2024-03-27 |website=womenshistory.si.edu |language=en}}</ref>
The A7L pressure suits reached space flight in October 1968 aboard Apollo 7.<ref name=tjtm155-162>{{cite book |title= The Journey To Moonwalking |author=Kenneth S. Thomas |year= 2017 |publisher= Curtis Press |___location= Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, UK |isbn= 9-780993-400223 | pages = 155–162 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=cdO2-4szcdgC }}</ref> These were used as launch and reentry emergency suits. Also in 1968, NASA recognized that with modifications, the Block II EMU could additionally support the later EVA missions that involved a Lunar Rover Vehicle (LRV). This resulted in the termination of Apollo Block III in favor of an Apollo 15 through 17 EMU using an A7LB suit and a "-7" long duration backpack.<ref name="us"/>
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The complete Apollo EMU made its space debut with Apollo 9 launched into space on March 3, 1969.<ref name=tjtm162-169>{{cite book |title= The Journey To Moonwalking |author=Kenneth S. Thomas |year= 2017 |publisher= Curtis Press |___location= Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, UK |isbn= 9-780993-400223 | pages = 162–169 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=cdO2-4szcdgC }}</ref> On the fourth day of the mission, Lunar Module Pilot Russell Schweickart and Commander James McDivitt went into the Lunar Module. The astronauts then depressurized both the Command and Lunar Modules. Schweickart emerged from the Lunar Module to test the backpack and conduct experiments. David Scott partially emerged from the Command Module's hatch supported by an umbilical system connected to the Command Module to observe. The EVA lasted only 46 minutes but allowed a verification of both EVA configurations of the EMU. This was the only Apollo spacewalk prior to the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission.
Apollo 11 made the A7L the most iconic suit of the program. It proved to be the primary [[pressure suit]] worn by [[NASA]] astronauts for [[Project Apollo]]. Starting in 1969, the A7L suits were designed and produced by [[ILC Dover]] (a division of [[Playtex]] at the time). The A7L is an evolution of ILC's initial A5L, which won a 1965 pressure suit competition, and A6L, which introduced the integrated thermal and
On July 20, 1969, the [[Apollo 11]] EMUs were prominent in television coverage of the first lunar landing. Also in 1969, International Latex elected to spin
The basic design of the A7L suit was a one piece, five-layer "torso-limb" suit with convoluted joints made of synthetic and natural rubber at the shoulders, elbows, wrist, hips, ankle, and knee joints. A shoulder "cable/conduit" assembly allowed the suit's shoulder to move forward, backwards, up, or down with user movements. Quick disconnects at the neck and forearms allowed for the connection of the pressure gloves and the famous Apollo "fishbowl helmet" (adopted by NASA as it allowed an unrestricted view, as well as eliminating the need for a visor seal required in the [[Navy Mark IV|Mercury]] and [[Gemini Spacesuit|Gemini and Apollo Block I]] spacesuit helmets). A cover layer, which was designed to be fireproof after the deadly Apollo 1 fire, was attached to the pressure garment assembly and was removable for repairs and inspection. All A7L suits featured a vertical zipper from the helmet disconnect (neck ring), down the back, and around the crotch.
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====Torso Limb Suit Assembly====
Between [[Apollo 7|Apollos 7]] and 14, the Commander (CDR) and [[Apollo Lunar Module|Lunar Module]] pilot (LMP), had Torso Limb Suit Assemblies (TSLA) with six [[life support]] connections placed in two parallel columns on the chest. The 4 lower connectors passed oxygen, an electrical headset/biomed connector was on the upper right, and a bidirectional cooling water connector was on the upper left.
====Integrated Thermal Micrometeoroid Garment====
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===Portable Life Support System===
At the beginning of the Apollo spacesuit competition, no one knew how the life support would attach to the suit, how the controls needed to be arranged, or what amount of life support was needed. What was known was that in ten months, the Portable Life Support System, aka "backpack", needed to be completed to support complete suit-system testing before the end of the twelfth month. Before the spacesuit contract was awarded, the requirement for normal life support per hour almost doubled. At this point, a maximum hourly metabolic energy expenditure requirement was added, which was over three times the original requirement.<ref name=tjtm34-39>{{cite book |title= The Journey To Moonwalking |author=Kenneth S. Thomas |year= 2017 |publisher= Curtis Press |___location= Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, UK |isbn= 9-780993-400223 | pages = 34–39 | url= https://books.google.com/books?id=cdO2-4szcdgC }}</ref>
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[[Image:EV-A7LB.png|thumb|200px|left]]
For the last three Apollo lunar flights [[Apollo 15|Apollos 15]], [[Apollo 16|16]], and [[Apollo 17|17]], the spacesuits were extensively revised. The pressure suits were called A7LB, which came in two versions. The Extra-vehicular (EV) version was a new mid-entry suit that allowed greater mobility and easier operations with the lunar rover. The A7LB EV suits were designed for longer duration J-series missions, in which three EVAs would be conducted and the [[Lunar Roving Vehicle]] (LRV) would be used for the first time. Originally developed by ILC-Dover as the "A9L," but given the designation "A7LB" by NASA,<ref name="isbn0-387-27919-9">{{cite book |author1=Harold J. McMann |author2=Thomas, Kenneth P. |title=US Spacesuits (Springer Praxis Books / Space Exploration) |publisher=Praxis |isbn=0-387-27919-9 |pages=171–172}}</ref> the new suit incorporated two new joints at the neck and waist. The waist joint was added to allow the astronaut to sit on the LRV and the neck joint was to provide additional visibility while driving the LRV. Because of the waist joint, the six life-support connectors were rearranged from the parallel pattern to a set of two "triangles," and the up-and-down back zipper was revised and relocated.<ref name='EMU Development' /> The "zipper" is actually a misnomer in that the A7L entry was through two zippers sewn over each other. The inner zipper had rubber teeth and provided sealing. The outer (externally visible) zipper was a conventional metal toothed slider for mechanical restraint. The A7LB had two pairs of such zipper sets that intersected on the right side of the suit above the waist joint. Opening the suit required undoing a clasp that held the zipper sets together.<ref>{{
In addition, the EVA backpacks were modified to carry more oxygen, [[lithium hydroxide]] (LiOH), more power, and cooling water for the longer EVAs.<ref name='EMU Development' /> While NASA wished these revisions to be accomplished without a volume increase, that was not possible. NASA allowed a minor protrusion on one side for an auxiliary water tank resulting in the last configuration of backpack. To maximize the return of lunar samples, the main module of both the Apollo 11,12,14 and 15-17 backpacks were left on the Moon.
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[[Image:SL3-118-2180HR4 Alan Bean during Skylab 3 EVA.jpg|thumb|200px|right|[[Alan Bean]] wearing a Skylab A7L during a [[Skylab 3]] EVA]]
The American space station
With the exception of the Orbital Workshop (OWS) repairs carried out by [[Skylab 2]] and [[Skylab 3]], all of the Skylab EVAs were conducted in connection to the routine maintenance carried out on the [[Apollo Telescope Mount]], which housed the station's solar telescopes. Because of the short duration of those EVAs, and as a need to protect the delicate instruments, the Apollo lunar EVA backpack was replaced with an umbilical assembly designed to incorporate both breathing air (Skylab's atmosphere was 74% oxygen and 26% nitrogen at 5 psi) and liquid water for cooling. The assembly was worn on the astronaut's waist and served as the interface between the umbilical and the suit. An emergency oxygen pack was strapped to the wearer's right thigh and was able to supply a 30-minute emergency supply of pure oxygen in the case of umbilical failure. Another unique feature of the Skylab EMU was its simplified EVA visor assembly that did not include an insulated thermal cover over the outer visor shell.
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=== ASTP Spacesuit ===
[[Image:Astp-KSC-75PC-409HR.2.jpg|thumb|200px|right| The ASTP crew, entering the transfer van]]
For the [[
The ASTP A7LB suit was the only Apollo suit to use the [[NASA logo|NASA "worm" logo]], which was introduced in 1975 and used extensively by NASA until 1992.
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