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  Neil Armstrong's Apollo 11 PGA suit number

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Author Topic:   Neil Armstrong's Apollo 11 PGA suit number
LM-12
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Posts: 3207
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010

posted 11-21-2012 07:56 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
NASA photo S69-38889 identifies Armstrong's lunar EVA suit as PGA 076.

This suit chart indicates that 076 was Aldrin's Apollo 11 back-up suit and that it was used again as Schmitt's training suit on the Apollo 15 back-up crew. The chart indicates that Armstrong's Apollo 11 flight suit was 056.

Is the photo incorrect?

DG27
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Posts: 173
From: USA
Registered: Nov 2010

posted 11-22-2012 06:19 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for DG27   Click Here to Email DG27     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The NASA Document "Apollo Missions - Flight Equipment Inventory" lists Armstrong's flown suit as s/n 056.

The photo may be of Armstrong's backup suit. The only way to be sure would be to look at the label of suit s/n 076.

LM-12
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From: Ontario, Canada
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posted 11-22-2012 08:40 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The Apollo Lunar Surface Journal shows Armstrong's flown suit with an 063 label. There are lots of great post-flight photos of the suit here.

See ILC Label SN063 photo in the Torso section.

kr4mula
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Posts: 642
From: Cinci, OH
Registered: Mar 2006

posted 11-23-2012 12:05 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for kr4mula   Click Here to Email kr4mula     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Technically, you're both right. Armstrong's flight PGA had the 056 serial number, but his ITMG had the 063 serial number.

According to Amanda Young's "Spacesuits" book on the NASM's collection, PGA 076 was an Aldrin backup suit, later used by Schmitt for training. I'm not sure where the mixup happened. Perhaps whoever made the sign in the photo screwed up? I doubt the NASM is confused as to which PGA/ITMG was Armstrong's flight suit. Incidentally, Armstrong's backup suit was 057/064, according to Young.

LM-12
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From: Ontario, Canada
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posted 11-23-2012 05:59 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The Neck Ring photo in the ALSJ shows a partially hidden label inside Armstrong's suit just below the neck ring near the left shoulder. The serial number is hidden. I guess that must be the 056 label.

Robert Pearlman
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From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999

posted 12-29-2012 12:32 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Robert Pearlman   Click Here to Email Robert Pearlman     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Apollo Lunar Surface Journal contributor Ulli Lotzmann writes with clarification:
According to many different documents, the serial number of Armstrong's flown PGA is without doubt 056. The suit shown on S69-38889 is also without doubt a pre-flight pic of his flight suit, thus the chart (SN 076) on the picture is not correct.

It is very likely that this mistake has slipped in as the Liner Assembly of his flight suit has SN 076. The relating ILC label is attached to the liner next to the neck ring.

We guess the guys who were in charge to take the pre-flight picture of Armstrong's flight suit checked this ILC label and thought it tells the SN of the PGA.

LM-12
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From: Ontario, Canada
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posted 12-29-2012 01:18 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Thanks for that explanation. Where is the 056 label located on Armstrong's flown suit?

LM-12
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From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010

posted 05-25-2013 10:47 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
A similar photo identifies Buzz Aldrin's flown Apollo 11 suit as PGA 077 which I believe is correct. Note that both suits do not have the mission patch yet.

Kocmoc
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Posts: 33
From: Washington, DC USA
Registered: May 2005

posted 05-28-2013 03:54 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for Kocmoc   Click Here to Email Kocmoc     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
I just wanted to confirm what others have said. The S/Ns for Neil Armstrong's flown suit are: PGA Serial # 056, ITMG Serial # 063.

Sorry for not checking in here so frequently. If any other questions come up, several of you know how to contact me directly.

------------------
Cathleen S. Lewis

LM-12
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Posts: 3207
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010

posted 02-03-2019 03:27 PM     Click Here to See the Profile for LM-12     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
The LEVA helmet is missing in both pre-flight suit photos.

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