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Author
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Topic: Displaying an authentic Gemini spacesuit
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Altidude
Member Posts: 137
From:
Registered: Jan 2016
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posted 05-27-2022 04:14 PM
   
I recently came into possession of a Gemini spacesuit. It is in fairly good condition, however, I am wondering about the best way to display and preserve it. I have had Tom Spina mount a replica Mercury spacesuit from "The Right Stuff" on a mannequin for display and it turned out great. However, this seems to be a different animal all together as it has all the inner components intact. I reached out to Spina and they are excited to do something similar with an "invisible" mannequin and this sounds like a great idea. However, they state that they have never worked with an actual NASA spacesuit. I've seen spacesuits displayed in museums like this and this sounds reasonable. The question I have is if there are any materials used in display that could harm the suit over time that we need to avoid. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks. |
Liembo
Member Posts: 812
From: Bothell, WA
Registered: Jan 2013
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posted 05-27-2022 05:18 PM
I would say that filtered air and UV protection would be absolutely paramount. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 49313
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-27-2022 05:34 PM
In addition to the advice you receive here, I would suggest reaching out the spacesuit curators and conservators at the National Air and Space Museum for their input. They have spent years studying this very issue and I know there is at least one white paper (written by the former curator) on best practices. |
Altidude
Member Posts: 137
From:
Registered: Jan 2016
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posted 05-27-2022 10:22 PM
Robert, thanks so much for the info. Sorry to ask this, but how would one look up this white paper or getting in touch with these professionals? Thanks. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 49313
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 05-27-2022 11:37 PM
The 23-page paper dates back to 2001 and is titled "The Preservation, Storage, and Display of Spacesuits" by Amanda Young and Lisa Young. Unfortunately, it does not appear to be online.Lisa Young is still with the museum as a spacesuit conservator. Cathleen Lewis is the current curator for spacesuits. She is also a collectSPACE member, so maybe she will see this thread and reply here. |
Altidude
Member Posts: 137
From:
Registered: Jan 2016
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posted 05-28-2022 09:17 AM
Thanks so much! |
Altidude
Member Posts: 137
From:
Registered: Jan 2016
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posted 10-28-2022 03:54 PM
Just wanted to give a follow up on the suit. Tom Spina’s group did an incredible job for mounting and display and it looks incredible. If any of you are having trouble with displaying an artifact, definitely keep them in mind. 
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Wlaine
Member Posts: 48
From: San Diego, CA. USA
Registered: Oct 2015
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posted 10-28-2022 04:31 PM
Outstanding display! Well done! |
MartinAir
Member Posts: 232
From:
Registered: Oct 2020
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posted 10-28-2022 06:02 PM
Very nice display! |
Altidude
Member Posts: 137
From:
Registered: Jan 2016
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posted 10-28-2022 06:14 PM
Thanks! They did a Mercury suit display for me before which came out great too. They are very professional and a pleasure to deal with and reasonable as well. |
mode1charlie
Member Posts: 1368
From: Honolulu, HI
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 10-28-2022 06:42 PM
Wow - well done and what an amazing piece! |
Zoo Keeper
Member Posts: 37
From: Akron, OH
Registered: Feb 2021
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posted 10-28-2022 09:06 PM
An incredible display. That suit was certainly something that many of us drooled over when it came up for auction, and I'm happy it ended up in a place where it is displayed so nicely. Have you considered hiring someone like Ryan Nagata to fabricate the missing sleeve for you, or is your preference to keep the suit all original? |
Altidude
Member Posts: 137
From:
Registered: Jan 2016
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posted 10-29-2022 07:21 AM
I actually never even considered that. That is a really good idea and I wished I had thought of it before. Maybe I will do that in the future. |
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