Posts: 1309
From: Denver, CO
Registered: Jun 2004

posted 11-03-2011 08:19 PM               

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I printed off a copy of the STI's Space Shuttle Missions Summary today, and the book's preface includes a blurb by 3-time shuttle vet Brewster Shaw. Accompanying Shaw's remarks was a portrait of him wearing a navy blue LES, and I'm as sure as I can be that I've never seen one of these before.

The LES Wiki page mentions the blue suit only briefly, and seems (to me) to indicate that it was produced very early in the program and only used for training. However, the Shaw portrait was clearly taken in the late '80s, as his suit is adorned with the STS-28 mission patch.

Does anyone know more about these suits, i. e. their provenance and when, how, or for how long they were utilized? (My copy of US Spacesuits may have info, but like most of my library it's in boxes at the moment and not easily accessible.)

I want to know because, while "survival orange" was clearly a more practical choice for the LES, that blue one is just...cool. Thanks!

Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000

posted 11-03-2011 10:12 PM               

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I believe the blue LES were first used for STS-26R, the first post-Challenger flight. As noted, because of their color, which made them difficult to spot if the crews had to ditch in the ocean, orange was used instead.

My understanding is that they got relegated to training status, as I've seen photos of astronauts wearing them (as late as the STS-50s, if I'm not mistaken.) I'm pretty certain that there exists an STS-28R crew photo where all of them are in the blue LES.

Posts: 1397
From: Kew, Victoria, Australia
Registered: May 2003

Posts: 173
From: USA
Registered: Nov 2010