|
Author
|
Topic: Neil Armstrong's Apollo A7L/B spacesuit
|
Henk Boshuijer
Member Posts: 450
From: Netherlands
Registered: May 2007
|
posted 12-30-2012 11:35 PM
   
This week I visited Kennedy Space Center and I saw Neil Armstrong's A7LB suit on display. Then a lot of questions popped up in my mind... what is the story behind this suit? Did they produce this suit after the Apollo 11 mission? Was Armstrong already assigned to another mission? Was it just standard procedure that all current astronauts got the newest model spacesuit? Are there any pictures of Armstrong wearing this suit? |
dragon001
Member Posts: 47
From: Allentown, PA, USA
Registered: Apr 2012
|
posted 12-31-2012 12:15 AM
Neil Armstrong had an A7LB? He announced he did not plan to return to space, and in fact left NASA in 1971.The Apollo 11 suit would have been an A7L, and custom tailored for the astronauts. The A7LB was used beginning with Apollo 15. See this. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
|
posted 12-31-2012 06:12 AM
Some years ago an A7L TMG layer, or part there of was sold at auction; that had an Armstrong name tag. Without going through all my old auction catalogues I could not be more specific but it pre dates 2003.The item amused Amanda Young, curator and restorer of the suit collection at the National Air and Space Museum Garber institute. It was her understanding that there was a suit tech or test subject by the name of Armstrong and she believed the item in question referred to him and not Neil. This may account for the A7LB Armstrong suit sighting. |
stsmithva
Member Posts: 1933
From: Fairfax, VA, USA
Registered: Feb 2007
|
posted 12-31-2012 06:19 AM
I remember Ms. Young mentioning that "Armstrong" suit at a book talk at NASM a year or two ago. Henk, was there a museum-made sign describing it as Neil Armstrong's, or did your sharp eyes notice "Armstrong" in the suit? Did you take a picture? |
Henk Boshuijer
Member Posts: 450
From: Netherlands
Registered: May 2007
|
posted 12-31-2012 06:46 AM
I saw the N. Armstrong nametag on the spacesuit. I thought it was strange to see this kind of suit with Armstrong's name on it. And yes... I took a picture.  I will try to post a picture later. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 12-31-2012 07:30 AM
I think you are referring this suit display, inside the Early Space Exploration Gallery at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex: If so, that is identified as a mockup by A Field Guide to American Spacecraft. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3207
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
|
posted 12-31-2012 02:24 PM
The "N. Armstrong" name tag differs from the surname-only "Armstrong" name tag that you see on the real Apollo suits. It looks pretty good though for a mockup. |
Henk Boshuijer
Member Posts: 450
From: Netherlands
Registered: May 2007
|
posted 01-02-2013 05:29 AM
It actually is the spacesuit in the picture that Robert posted. This mockup looks very real (unlike a lot of other mockups). Even from a very close distance this suit looks real. Thanks Robert, another mystery solved. |
Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1306
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
|
posted 01-05-2013 03:42 PM
There was a photo of Jim McDivitt a while back with the name tag of "J McDivitt". I seem to remember the date as 1971. I've seen Neil's back-up suit, it also just says "Armstrong", there is no "N". |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
|
posted 01-07-2013 06:55 AM
There is an oblique view of Armstrong's backpack on the lunar surface. The name tag states "N. Armstrong" in red lettering.For what it is worth, the suit in the photo above appears to be genuine. It is, in my opinion, a mock-up in as much as it has been mocked up to be an Armstrong suit when the likelihood is Neil did not have a A7LB suit. |
advertisement