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Author
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Topic: Gemini and Apollo 1: Interchangeable helmet?
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carmelo
Member Posts: 1051
From: Messina, Sicilia, Italia
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 10-13-2011 11:36 AM
   
Why for Apollo 1 was added to the standard Gemini helmet the visor-shield? And an Apollo 1 style helmet can be worn in a Gemini capsule? |
Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1332
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 10-13-2011 12:46 PM
I don't think the Apollo 1 helmet would have fit in Gemini due to the ejection seats. There was very little clearence between the pilots head and the hatch. |
DG27
Member Posts: 178
From: USA
Registered: Nov 2010
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posted 10-14-2011 12:23 AM
The Apollo capsule had much more room for the crew to float around in than the Gemini. Thus there was a greater chance of damaging the helmet visor and locking bailer bar, if a suited crew member were to bump the top of the helmet into the spacecraft or into another crew member with the visor in the open position. So a protective cover was added to protect the visor when it is in the open position. As far as the helmet itself, the neck rings are the same so the helmets can actually be interchanged between suits. The Apollo 1 visor cover adds 1 inch extra of height over the height of the open visor and about an inch of extra depth to the back of the helmet, which, as the other post identified, may interfere with the cabin hatch and ejection seat as well. However there was no need for the visor cover in the Gemini capsule.
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carmelo
Member Posts: 1051
From: Messina, Sicilia, Italia
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 10-15-2011 09:40 PM
quote:
Originally posted by DG27:
The Apollo capsule had much more room for the crew to float around in than the Gemini. Thus there was a greater chance of damaging the helmet visor.
But also the shuttle cabin had much, much more room, but SR-71 EISS, LES and ACES suits had not visor shield on helmet. |
DG27
Member Posts: 178
From: USA
Registered: Nov 2010
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posted 10-17-2011 05:32 AM
The helmets for the EES, LES, and ACES all had a tinted sun visor which also acts as a shield to protect the pressure visor when the pressure visor is in the open position. Hope this helps. |
Jay Chladek
Member Posts: 2272
From: Bellevue, NE, USA
Registered: Aug 2007
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posted 10-25-2011 06:08 AM
Plus, in the case of shuttle, the procedures call for the helmets to be stowed pretty early in the flight and the larger room means that if a crewmember is gingerly about how he moves and anchors himself, he isn't as likely to bump into something. Indeed in early shuttle flights, the astronauts pretty much stowed their helmets while they were still seated from what I can see in the movies they shot.Apollo was bigger than Gemini, but the cabin was still pretty cramped in comparison to shuttle. As such, it was potentially a lot easier for a crewmember to accidentally launch himself into a bulkhead or a panel if he wasn't careful. |
carmelo
Member Posts: 1051
From: Messina, Sicilia, Italia
Registered: Jun 2004
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posted 10-27-2011 04:46 PM
And the problem was not the same for the A7L and A7LB "bubble" helmet? |
DG27
Member Posts: 178
From: USA
Registered: Nov 2010
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posted 10-28-2011 01:36 AM
Yes, the Apollo A7L/A7LB helmet could be scratched (but not broken since it was polycarbonate), so Apollo had a special IVA shield to protect the helmet from damage in the capsule. The IVA shield was the same basic shape as the pressure helmet bubble, but slightly larger and the rear was cut out. The shield was all clear like the helmet bubble. The shield slipped over the helmet bubble and protected it from scratches. The rear of the shield was open so it could be slipped over the helmet bubble. The shield has a clearance hole on the side that goes over the helmet's side mounted feed port so the shield does not interfere with the feed port. |
ilbasso
Member Posts: 1522
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 10-28-2011 09:23 AM
Scratching the A7L helmet reminded me of the story that Bill Anders tells of the ascent to orbit on the first Saturn V. When the first stage cut out, the sudden loss of acceleration gave the sensation to the astronauts that they were being thrown into the control panel. Anders instinctively raised his hands to protect his face. Once in orbit and as they removed their suits, his veteran crewmates laughed at him as a "rookie" when they saw the scratches that his glove locking rings made on his helmet. |
Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1332
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 10-28-2011 12:14 PM
Jonathan, they all had scratched helmets. |
ilbasso
Member Posts: 1522
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Feb 2006
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posted 10-28-2011 10:06 PM
If I had been in their place, there would also have been soiled undergarments... |
Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1332
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 10-29-2011 01:54 PM
Ha-ha-ha. That was a good one. |
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