posted 06-27-2018 07:36 AM
The Apollo A7L suits configured for the command module pilots were described as IVA suits but as was demonstrated by Dave Scott on Apollo 9, could be exposed to the full vacuum of space for EVA purposes. However, the Apollo A7L suits used by the commander and lunar module pilot on lunar EVAs had additional fabric layering. So what was this additional layering for?
I understand that the lunar surface suits had shoulder joints and leg joints for mobility and that this feature was obviously not included or needed for the CMP suits. And also, the lunar surface suits had a separate liquid cooling garment. But these considerations aside, why were there additional fabric layers if the CMP suit could function for an extended period in the total vacuum of heat and cold of space?
Jim Behling Member
Posts: 1463 From: Cape Canaveral, FL Registered: Mar 2010
posted 06-27-2018 07:37 AM
The extra layers were for thermal control and micrometeoroid protection. The CMP did not go completely out of the command module and it was a short EVA, until the J missions.