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Author
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Topic: "Space Suit Experience" adventure at ILC Dover
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SpaceSuitPGA
Member Posts: 28
From: Dover, DE USA
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 02-07-2015 09:21 AM
   
I'm very fortunate to say that I've worked for ILC Dover for 37 years now and I'm responsible for testing of all space suit parts we make for NASA. I also do their Apollo suit history and help from time to time on Smithsonian projects. I've been asked to lay out a potential program at ILC working with a major organization to give folks a "Space Suit Experience." I'm laying out a one day adventure and thought this group would be the best collection of folks to ask about what it is you might like to see if you paid to come to ILC for the day. Certainly there would be time set aside to pressurize in a space suit (not sure what configuration yet) as long as we could reasonably size the suit for you! Let me know what you'd be interested in seeing and doing if you could come to ILC for the day. Thanks so much for your help! |
Hart Sastrowardoyo
Member Posts: 3445
From: Toms River, NJ
Registered: Aug 2000
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posted 02-07-2015 09:58 AM
Definitely be interested. Would like to see some of the spacesuits (and maybe the evolution of them), put into some context, e.g., perhaps a training moonwalker suit on a simulated lunar landscape. Yes to trying on a spacesuit — maybe for the younger kids, trying on gloves and trying to accomplish tasks such as picking up objects — and perhaps an astronaut speaker talking about their experience in an ILC suit. |
ZeroG
Member Posts: 27
From: St. Louis, MO., USA
Registered: Apr 2013
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posted 02-07-2015 10:20 AM
Definitely would be interested as well. |
cycleroadie
Member Posts: 452
From: Apalachin, NY USA
Registered: May 2011
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posted 02-07-2015 11:02 AM
I'd be very interested as long as I could work out the schedule. I'd like to see the evolution of suits, how they are constructed, and what advances will be in the next generation of suits.
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JBoe
Member Posts: 959
From: Churchton, MD
Registered: Oct 2012
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posted 02-07-2015 02:11 PM
I would definitely drive up to Dover from Maryland! Would the possibility to have family come with too? I know the kids would love it! What things do you need to coordinate a visit for this one in the lifetime opportunity?!?! Thanks! |
RGW
Member Posts: 40
From: Long Island, New York, USA
Registered: Sep 2004
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posted 02-07-2015 02:58 PM
Congrats on your career at ILC and your role in our nation's space programs. Yes, I'd be interested in ILC's "Space Suit Experience". Great ideas already posted!In addition, please consider: - showing / demonstrating the layers of the early suits;
- a movie about manufacturing the space suits;
- a montage of suit "ideas" that were "runners-up", or concepts that weren't funded;
- any "Hollywood" space suits that ILC ever helped design;
- how space suit technology has had "here-on-Earth" applications;
- history of how ILC got into the very niche market of space suits; and
- "Bloopers" from testing space suit designs, or from training in space suits.
If the "one day adventure" at ILC could be on a Saturday, that would be most convenient.Thanks for seeking our input. Looking forward to hearing more. |
mode1charlie
Member Posts: 1169
From: Honolulu, HI
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 02-07-2015 03:13 PM
Outstanding! I second the excellent suggestions already provided but will just add that this is a (long) trip I will certainly make, if this plan comes to pass. Suiting up in a pressurized spacesuit would fulfill a boyhood dream. Cool idea. |
Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1306
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 02-07-2015 03:26 PM
Yes, I'd be up for it. May I suggest going back to the 50's and include a U-2 type suit. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 42981
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-07-2015 03:41 PM
Lou, ILC didn't get into the spacesuit business until Apollo. The U-2 pressure suits were made by the David Clark Company. |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4167
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 02-07-2015 03:47 PM
ILC were makers of bras and girdles in the 50s and 60s. Not immdeiately relevant but that certainly influenced their involvement in Apollo. They might show you those.  |
Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1306
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 02-07-2015 04:32 PM
Okay, I know. But still it would be interesting, if they would have a Mercury and Gemini suit on display.This all depends on the amount of money and space they have allotted for this project. |
pupnik
Member Posts: 114
From: Maryland
Registered: Jan 2014
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posted 02-07-2015 07:25 PM
It would definitely be interesting. Beyond what others have said I would also say it'd be great to be able to see any of the behind the scenes production and testing sort of areas. |
SpaceAholic
Member Posts: 4437
From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 02-07-2015 08:12 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Robert Pearlman:
Lou, ILC didn't get into the spacesuit business until Apollo.
They competed with entries into early programs including the X-15 program and Project Mercury. |
SpaceSuitPGA
Member Posts: 28
From: Dover, DE USA
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 02-08-2015 07:33 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Hart Sastrowardoyo:
Definitely be interested.
Thanks a lot Hart. This is all very useful feedback that I really would like yo see put to use. I'm forwarding on the ideas to management at ILC in hopes this leads to something. quote:
Originally posted by cycleroadie:
I'd like to see the evolution of suits, how they are constructed, and what advances will be in the next generation of suits.
Hopefully we can open the doors to you and others who have the interest. quote:
Originally posted by JBoe:
Would the possibility to have family come with too? I know the kids would love it!
We're looking at partnering with an organization that provides this kind of experience for those willing to pay a fee to cover the costs and we are in the process of figuring out what the program would consist of which would drive the costs. Not sure how this would be handled with multiple family, friends, etc.I'll update everyone once we know more. I'd like to see this open up to all those interested. — Bill Ayrey |
SpaceSuitPGA
Member Posts: 28
From: Dover, DE USA
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 02-08-2015 07:49 AM
quote:
Originally posted by RGW:
Congrats on your career at ILC and your role in our nation's space programs. Yes, I'd be interested in ILC's "Space Suit Experience".
Thanks so much for the kind words and more importantly the great ideas. I am putting together the outline for the presentation and will make certain several if not all of your ideas are addressed. quote:
Originally posted by mode1charlie:
I second the excellent suggestions already provided but will just add that this is a (long) trip I will certainly make, if this plan comes to pass.
You might win the prize for the most distance traveled and I certainly hope this happens so you have the opportunity! quote:
Originally posted by Lou Chinal:
Yes, I'd be up for it. May I suggest going back to the 50's and include a U-2 type suit.
Thanks for the reply. I can promise a lot of space suit and pressure suit history since it's a big part of how we started in the business. It makes for a great story. I'll keep you updated as we learn more. |
SpaceSuitPGA
Member Posts: 28
From: Dover, DE USA
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 02-08-2015 07:57 AM
quote:
Originally posted by pupnik:
Beyond what others have said I would also say it'd be great to be able to see any of the behind the scenes production and testing sort of areas.
Thanks for the input. I'm outlining the program and really do hope this can happen. I will keep you updated as this moves forward. Stay tuned!I am really hoping we could open our doors to folks like many of those on collectSPACE. I had a lot of good input, so we'll see what comes of it. |
SpaceSuitPGA
Member Posts: 28
From: Dover, DE USA
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 02-08-2015 08:29 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Rick Mulheirn:
ILC were makers of bras and girdles in the 50s and 60s... They might show you those.
Sorry to say it but no bras or girdles to show off but we'll have plenty in the way of suits. |
Joel Katzowitz
Member Posts: 808
From: Marietta GA USA
Registered: Dec 1999
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posted 02-08-2015 08:36 AM
One aspect of suit making that I found fascinating was the post production inspection process. In particular the x-ray tests that could reveal needles and other unwelcome goodies that were accidentally left inside the suits.Sounds like a great project. |
JBoe
Member Posts: 959
From: Churchton, MD
Registered: Oct 2012
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posted 02-08-2015 09:07 AM
Joel, that's a great idea, I too would be interested in seeing how they make the suit, test it, and inspect in defects or hidden objects! Great suggestion! |
kr4mula
Member Posts: 642
From: Cinci, OH
Registered: Mar 2006
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posted 02-10-2015 12:35 PM
quote:
Originally posted by SpaceAholic:
They competed with entries into early programs including the X-15 program and Project Mercury.
They even predated that. ILC had an Air Force contract to develop full pressure suits that ran from 1955-1961. It was with the Aeromedical Laboratory at Wright-Patterson AFB. Prior to that ILC, developed helmets for them. I'm not sure if ILC was involved in the Navy's pressure suit work prior to that. |
onesmallstep
Member Posts: 1310
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 02-10-2015 01:37 PM
It was B.F. Goodrich and Arrowhead Rubber who worked to develop a series of pressure suits that culminated in the Marks III and IV for the Navy. The Mark IV was chosen by NASA over a design by David Clark (used for the X-15), and became the basis for the iconic silver Project Mercury suits worn by all Original Seven astronauts.One of the tests in high-altitude conditions for the Mark IV came, ironically, one day before Alan Shepard's flight aboard MR-3: On May 4, 1961 two Navy officers rode the Strato-Lab V unpressurized gondola to nearly 114,000 feet. Tragically, one died during the recovery operation at sea. |
Charlie16
Member Posts: 494
From: Italy
Registered: Dec 2010
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posted 02-10-2015 01:47 PM
Great news! See the machines used for sewing, see the materials used, the progress of the models. All this is part of world history. As a fan of space suits, although a little out of hand... it's worth a trip to one of the sacred places of astronautics. ILC is definitely the factory I want to visit. |
SpaceSuitPGA
Member Posts: 28
From: Dover, DE USA
Registered: Jul 2002
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posted 02-10-2015 09:08 PM
Thanks for that input Charlie16. Too bad you're not closer but if you're ever in the neighborhood, I hope you can come by. |
mode1charlie
Member Posts: 1169
From: Honolulu, HI
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 02-11-2015 03:12 AM
Some have expressed interest in early suits, which I understand — even though they weren't produced by ILC. But just to add my two cents, I think the A7L is still the iconic spacesuit, followed by the EMU. But I'm also interested in future planned suits and so it would be great if the Z-1 is represented as well. |
moorouge
Member Posts: 2454
From: U.K.
Registered: Jul 2009
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posted 02-11-2015 06:20 AM
quote:
Originally posted by Rick Mulheirn:
ILC were makers of bras and girdles in the 50s and 60s.
Somehow I don't think that a lady modelling an ILC spacesuit would have quite the same appeal as one modelling an ILC bra or girdle. 
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Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1306
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 02-11-2015 11:29 AM
May I also suggest contacting Dava Newman of MIT. |
mode1charlie
Member Posts: 1169
From: Honolulu, HI
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 02-11-2015 12:57 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Lou Chinal:
May I also suggest contacting Dava Newman of MIT.
I think I know where you're headed with this (and agree it's quite interesting - although it's not ILC), but Dava Newman is awaiting confirmation by the Senate as the new Deputy Administrator at NASA. |
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