[SPACESUIT TESTING]. ARCHIVE OF PHOTOGRAPHS DOCUMENTING SPACESUIT TESTING, CA 1958-1975

[SPACESUIT TESTING]

ARCHIVE OF PRESS PHOTOGRAPHS DOCUMENTING SPACESUIT FUNCTIONALITY AND CERTIFICATION, CA 1958-1975

Approximately 42 vintage black and white silver gelatin photographs, 5 color photographs, and 1 color photolithograph, ranging in size from 5 by 4 inches to 8 ½ by 11 (predominately the latter), many versos affixed with paper captions and stamped with courtesy and credit information. Distributed by ILC Industries, Hamilton Standard (United Technologies), NASA, United Press International, the Public Information Office of the Marshall Space Flight Center, and others. Including four motion studies from the Space Division of North American Aviation dated June 1967, overlayed with tissue paper, and bearing annotations charting the movement capacity of the subject in a spacesuit. Overall quite good, assorted wear consistent with circulated press photographs, a few photographs toned or warped. 

AN EXTENSIVE ARCHIVE OF PHOTOGRAPHS TRACING THE TESTING OF THE SPACESUITS THAT WOULD BE USED IN THE MERCURY, GEMINI, APOLLO, AND SPACE SHUTTLE PROGRAMS

As NASA progressed from Project Mercury through to Gemini and Apollo, the spacesuits adapted along with evolving program requirements, always with the critical aim to protect the astronauts against the extreme conditions of space travel while maintaining an adequate degree of comfort and functionality. Some of the contractors engaged to work on Spacesuit development for NASA during these years included the David Clark Company, B.F. Goodrich, ILC Dover, and Hamilton Standard. 

This archive offers a glimpse into the testing and certification process, including donning procedures, strength and functionality tests (including dexterity and mobility), demonstrations of Beta cloth capabilities, and the Astronaut Maneuvering Unit (AMU), including the Modular Maneuvering Unit (MMU) and Emergency Life Support System (ELSS).