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Author
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Topic: Shuttle EMU spacesuit parts in private collections
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Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 23493
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted April 13, 2007 10:41 AM
   
What components of the shuttle/ISS Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) spacesuit have been deaccessed by NASA or its contractors to enter private collections? I know there have been a few TMG-layer-only gloves and boots, as well as the odd disposable part, but have there been helmets, hard upper torso, lower torso or even liquid cooling garments bought and sold? Are there any flown components (of any type) in private collections? |
Matt T
Member Posts: 1313
From: Chester, Cheshire, UK
Registered: May 2001
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posted April 13, 2007 11:08 AM
The Snoopy Cap in my collection is Shuttle era. I'm aware of a few other parts that have been offered through private sales that fall within the categories you mention. Please email me if you'd like the details. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 1916
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted April 13, 2007 05:40 PM
You mentioned flown items; Matt can probably verify this but it is my understanding that many of the used TMG gloves have been flown, and subsequently (due to wear and tear) downgraded for use in the WETF tank... before eventually being scrapped/sold in to private hands. |
Richard
New Member Posts: 5
From: Morrisonville, New York USA
Registered: Apr 2009
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posted April 14, 2007 10:38 PM
Is this true? Then does that make the TMG shuttle gloves that Robert and I own more valuable? |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 1916
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted April 15, 2007 12:43 PM
I doubt the flown status of a shuttle TMG glove would make any difference to their value unless perhaps you could nail it down to a particular mission. I believe the flown nature of such gloves is not new news to many who collect such items; their current market value ($1100ish a piece) reflects that. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 23493
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted April 15, 2007 12:51 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Rick Mulheirn:
...unless perhaps you could nail it down to a particular mission.
I recently learned that the paperwork/records do exist to track any EMU component to the mission(s) it flew (though not to the astronaut who wore it) but that access to this documentation is not publicly accessible. Perhaps as the STS program comes to an end, the information will become available.
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Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 1916
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted April 15, 2007 03:27 PM
When the shuttle EMU came into use I recall reading a comment that suggested the gloves were the only part of the suit that were still tailored to the individual astronaut.Apollo suits of course were bespoke to each individual. If that were the case, the records should show which glove fitted which astronaut. |
Richard
New Member Posts: 5
From: Morrisonville, New York USA
Registered: Apr 2009
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posted April 15, 2007 03:45 PM
It seems that there are two different types of these gloves available. Are they of similar rarity and demand? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 23493
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted April 15, 2007 03:54 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Rick Mulheirn:
If that were the case, the records should show which glove fitted which astronaut.
I believed this until recently as well, however as I learned just this past week, it was not always the case. NASA found that multiple astronauts could wear the same size gloves and therefore astronauts were able to sometimes share pairs. Per NASA, the records retained by the EVA Office only record mission use and are not astronaut-specific. Perhaps ILC's records contain this information. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 23493
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted April 15, 2007 04:03 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Richard:
It seems that there are 2 different types of these gloves available. Are they of similar rarity and demand?
Are you referring to the gloves with yellow palms and blue fingertips versus the gloves with gray palms and fingertips, or something different? |
Richard
New Member Posts: 5
From: Morrisonville, New York USA
Registered: Apr 2009
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posted April 15, 2007 04:27 PM
Yes. I believe that the ones with the grey palms have the additional ridges added and are the more modern version. Unfortunately, I don't know their proper names. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 1916
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted April 15, 2007 06:33 PM
I believe the grey palmed gloves you refer to are called the "Phase VI" glove. It includes heating elements in the finger tips. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 23493
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted April 15, 2007 08:35 PM
A history of the EMU glove, focusing on the development of the Phase IV, series 5000, and Phase V gloves, prepared by ILC and NASA can be found here: Phase VI Advanced EVA Glove Development and Certification for the International Space Station (PDF)Richard, based on your question, do you know of any Phase IV gloves (TMG layers) in private collections? Also, its my assumption that TMG layers are only available; that the pressure glove itself has retained with the program, correct? |
Matt T
Member Posts: 1313
From: Chester, Cheshire, UK
Registered: May 2001
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posted April 16, 2007 05:21 AM
Nearly all the questions above (sizing, model/phase revisions) are answered in great detail in the superb 'U.S. Spacesuits' from Springer/Praxis. An absolutely essential purchase for anyone collecting spacesuit items. The level of detail is stunning - I was able to nail down the origin of an unknown glove in my collection that had remained an enigma for months despite ceaseless internet trawling. Given that the glove in question was an abandoned prototype from a classified manned program gives you some idea of how thorough the book is. |
spaceflightamerica
Member Posts: 26
From: Owings, MD, USA
Registered: Jul 2007
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posted August 09, 2011 07:59 PM
As a non-profit, we have been very fortunate over the past few years to be the recipient of some great stuff from NASA and their contractors ILC and Hamilton Sunstrand. I have put some of the collection online. |
Spaceguy5
Member Posts: 159
From: Pampa, TX, US
Registered: May 2011
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posted August 09, 2011 08:07 PM
Do you have any plans to put this stuff on display? |
spaceflightamerica
Member Posts: 26
From: Owings, MD, USA
Registered: Jul 2007
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posted August 09, 2011 08:26 PM
We would love to build a museum, but can't afford it. We have so much stuff (Chinese, Russian, and US) available to display. |
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