Lunar Outfitters

Making the Apollo Space Suit

Bill Ayrey (Autor)

Buch | Softcover

422 Seiten

2023
University Press of Florida (Verlag)
978-0-8130-8043-7 (ISBN)

Artikel merken

Longtime ILC space suit test engineer Bill Ayrey draws on original files and photographs to tell the dramatic story of the company’s role in the Apollo Program. A fascinating behind-the-scenes history of a vital component of the space program, this book goes inside the suit that made it possible for human beings to set foot on the moon.

The design processes behind a giant leap for mankind

Neil Armstrong in a space suit on the moon remains an iconic representation of America's technological ingenuity. Few know that the Model A-7L pressure suit worn by the Apollo 11 astronauts, and the Model A-7LB that replaced it in 1971, originated at ILC Industries (now ILC Dover, LP), an obscure Delaware industrial firm.Longtime ILC space suit test engineer Bill Ayrey draws on original files and photographs to tell the dramatic story of the company's role in the Apollo Program. Though respected for its early designs, ILC failed to win NASA's faith. When the government called for new suit concepts in 1965, ILC had to plead for consideration before NASA gave it a mere six weeks to come up with a radically different design. ILC not only met the deadline but won the contract. That underdog success led to its greatest challenge: winning a race against time to create a suit that would determine the success or failure of the Apollo missions—and life or death for the astronauts.

A fascinating behind-the-scenes history of a vital component of the space program, Lunar Outfitters goes inside the suit that made it possible for human beings to set foot on the moon.

Bill Ayrey was a space suit test engineer and company historian at ILC Dover for over forty years. He spent more than 140 hours pressurized in the Space Shuttle EVA suit, testing the many components, during its years of development. Over the past twenty years, he has assisted the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in preserving the suits within its collection.

Preface
Introduction
Part I. Humble Beginnings
1. School of Hard Knocks
2. Developing the State-of-the-Art Space Suit
3. The Turbulent Years, 1962–1965
4. Second Chances: The Model AX-5L and A-5L Suits
Part II. Building the Moon Suits
5. The Model A-5L Space Suit Contract
6. The Model A-6L Space Suit: Unveiling the First Moon Suit
7. The Model A-7L Space Suit, 1967–1971
8. The Model A-7LB Space Suit: The Next Generation, 1971–1975
Part III. Post-Lunar Missions
9. Skylab, the Apollo-Soyuz Test Program, and Other Development Suits
10. End of a Historic Era
Conclusion: Preserving Our Treasures; The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Acknowledgments
Appendix A: Technical Details of the Apollo Space Suits
Appendix B: Apollo Part Numbers and Serial Numbers
Appendix C: Apollo Contract Details
Appendix D: Astronaut Code Names
Appendix E: A-7LB Suit Plug Loads and Fabric Stresses
Timeline of Significant Events
Glossary
Notes
Further Reading
Index

Erscheinungsdatum	27.09.2023
Zusatzinfo	169 b&w illus., 10 tables
Verlagsort	Florida
Sprache	englisch
Maße	156 x 235 mm
Gewicht	272 g
Themenwelt	Geschichte ► Teilgebiete der Geschichte ► Technikgeschichte
	Technik ► Fahrzeugbau / Schiffbau
	Technik ► Luft- / Raumfahrttechnik
ISBN-10	0-8130-8043-6 / 0813080436
ISBN-13	978-0-8130-8043-7 / 9780813080437
Zustand	Neuware