|
Author
|
Topic: Astronauts' sunglasses brands worn in space
|
eilisk
Member Posts: 100
From:
Registered: Oct 2004
|
posted 04-02-2005 06:05 AM
  
I was wondering if anyone knew the manufacturer of the sunglasses that the Gemini crews were issued. |
carmelo
Member Posts: 1110
From: Messina, Sicilia, Italia
Registered: Jun 2004
|
posted 04-02-2005 07:51 AM
Raybans? |
ejectr
Member Posts: 2074
From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002
|
posted 04-02-2005 10:27 AM
Yup, bought a pair of Raybans aboard the aircraft carrier I was aboard during the Apollo program.Gave them to my son to use when he was taking flying lessons and he immediately lost them. I was so thrilled about that! |
eilisk
Member Posts: 100
From:
Registered: Oct 2004
|
posted 04-02-2005 01:56 PM
Thanks for the info.Does anyone know where I could get a pair in the same style? I quite like them! |
ejectr
Member Posts: 2074
From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002
|
posted 04-02-2005 05:56 PM
American Optical claims to have been on the moon with Apollo 11. Randolph makes them, too. I believe today's Air Force pilots use Randolph. |
John McGauley
Member Posts: 152
From: Fort Wayne, Indiana USA
Registered: May 2001
|
posted 04-02-2005 08:43 PM
I have a pair of those American Optical aviator sunglasses and I love them. Not only are they very cool, they're VERY hard to damage. Trust me, I've done everything but set them on fire (accidentally, of course) and they're still virtuatlly new. |
Philip
Member Posts: 6400
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
|
posted 04-05-2005 12:11 AM
The sunglasses with straight earbars are made by Randolph Engineering and were/are standard issue for military aviators worldwide. These come in three different sizes of glass-diameter. The frame is available in gold-color or silver color. |
ejectr
Member Posts: 2074
From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002
|
posted 04-05-2005 05:01 AM
The American Optical has the paddle type arms, also. In silver and gold. |
Philip
Member Posts: 6400
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
|
posted 05-22-2006 11:08 AM
Silhouette 'Titan Minimal Art Space' glasses are worn by astronauts on shuttle missions. These glasses are Austrian-made and don't even have little screws to hold everything together. Each astronaut got five of those!
|
ilbasso
Member Posts: 1527
From: Greensboro, NC USA
Registered: Feb 2006
|
posted 05-22-2006 12:52 PM
I like this picture of John Phillips on Expedition 11 - between the granny glasses, the gray hair, moustache, and puffy face from weightlessness, this shot makes it look like Wilford Brimley is taking a spacewalk! |
ejectr
Member Posts: 2074
From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002
|
posted 05-22-2006 07:50 PM
Hmm.... funny that American Optical (AO) advertises that Apollo 11 wore their "Original Pilot" sunglasses to the moon if Randolph claims to have been the supplier since the Gemini days.Personally, I was issued a pair of AO's by the Navy in 1969. |
Philip
Member Posts: 6400
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
|
posted 06-06-2006 04:24 PM
Well, were those straight ear-bars sunglasses Randolph or Ray-Ban or AO... is there a website anywhere which could clear this out? |
ejectr
Member Posts: 2074
From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002
|
posted 06-06-2006 05:44 PM
Mine were paddle temple AO. AO claims that Apollo 11 took their original pilot model to the moon as this ad states: In fact, the Original Pilot Sunglass was honored to be the first ever sunglass to be brought up to the moon with the crew of the "Eagle" lunar landing in 1969. It was subsequently featured in the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum in Washington, DC. I believe theirs were also paddle temple. |
Philip
Member Posts: 6400
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
|
posted 06-14-2006 11:13 AM
The design of American Optical's and Randolph Engineering's aviator sunglasses certainly almost look the same. |
ejectr
Member Posts: 2074
From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002
|
posted 06-14-2006 12:55 PM
Randolph since 1982... not in the '60's.Also, Navy pilots have a directive NOT to wear anything but AO glasses because of the natural light lens. If anything else is used under their pull down sun shield on their helmet and looking through a tinted canopy, loss of visual acuity will occur due to the several layers of shading and polarization. I'll email my son at Edwards AFB and see what he was issued. |
ejectr
Member Posts: 2074
From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002
|
posted 06-14-2006 08:20 PM
From my son at Edwards AFB: Randolph Engineering makes them for the Air Force, I don't know about the Navy. I actually don't have AF issue sunglasses, I just use the visor. |
Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1390
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
|
posted 04-21-2008 03:00 PM
The American Optical sunglasses that Mike Collins wore on Apollo 11 are still on display at the National Air and Space Museum. They are the same type I was given. |
GeminiXII
Member Posts: 63
From: Georgia
Registered: Dec 2006
|
posted 10-21-2008 07:09 PM
I was fortunate to bid on and win Jim Lovell's glasses case from the Apollo 13 flight and was wondering if anyone knew exactly where he may have carried them. The Apollo 13 stowage list states that it was "on" the astronaut. |
spaced out
Member Posts: 3224
From: Paris, France
Registered: Aug 2003
|
posted 10-23-2008 07:57 AM
The sunglasses were carried in a dedicated pocket on the upper right arm of the A7L space suit, and on the inflight coveralls.By the way, I must ask the obvious question with regards the case you bought... just where the heck are Jim's sunglasses? |
GeminiXII
Member Posts: 63
From: Georgia
Registered: Dec 2006
|
posted 10-30-2008 04:57 PM
I wrote Jim Lovell and inquired about the whereabouts of the sunglasses. You were exactly correct about where the glasses case was stowed. Lovell stated that it was too bad that he didn't keep the glasses but he didn't specify exactly where they ended up. He stated that he transferred the case to his inflight suit and that only when the sun was in the vicinity of the window did he ever wear his sunglasses. I guess we may never know where they ended up. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 56678
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
|
posted 08-16-2010 11:24 AM
SciAm: Space Spectacles: NASA Evaluates Adjustable Astronaut Eyewear NASA is evaluating a new type of adjustable eyeglass lens called TruFocals for use during training and on missions. For the past six months NASA has been taking TruFocals (made by Van Nuys, Calif.–based Zoom Focus Eyewear, LLC) through a detailed certification process to ensure they are not only a better option than other types of eyeglasses but that the materials used to make them will not pose a hazard to astronauts in their enclosed work environs, says C. Robert Gibson, a senior optometrist at the NASA Johnson Space Center in Houston. |
spacefan JC
Member Posts: 86
From: UK
Registered: Jun 2010
|
posted 08-31-2011 10:26 AM
I have just ordered a pair of American Optical Original Pilot sunglasses, in silver with grey lenses. I understand these were used in Apollo (as shown by Collins' in NASM) and they changed to Randolph in 1982. Can't wait for them to arrive to have a pair of sunglasses as issued by NASA for Apollo. Crew cut and chinos now to complete the look... Just need a beta cloth case!!!! |
Philip
Member Posts: 6400
From: Brussels, Belgium
Registered: Jan 2001
|
posted 04-01-2013 09:42 AM
At the little museum of the NASA DSN Tidbinbilla near Canberra, Australia, I noticed a display entitled "Aussie Eyes in space" about special eye wear designed by Australian optician Dr. John Colvin.It looks like these glare reducing sunglasses were used during the Apollo and Skylab project... can anyone acknowledge? |
Chariot412
Member Posts: 165
From: Lockport, NY, 14094
Registered: Jun 2011
|
posted 04-01-2013 10:28 AM
Just checked my old Air Force pilot issued sunglasses from the 1980's and, yep, they're the gold A.O. By the way, the Air Force stopped issuing the gold and switched to dull silver sometime in the 1990's, if I remember correctly. |
Mike Dixon
Member Posts: 1625
From: Kew, Victoria, Australia
Registered: May 2003
|
posted 04-01-2013 06:01 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Philip:
...special eye wear designed by Australian optician Dr. John Colvin.
There was an optometrist in Melbourne who definitely supplied sunglasses to both Pete Conrad and Richard Gordon.Can't remember his name, but he proudly displayed a signed picture given to him by the crew, together with the story behind the development of the glasses in his store window. |
Martin1264
Member Posts: 23
From: Easton, Connecticut, USA
Registered: Aug 2010
|
posted 05-19-2021 10:44 AM
I have a few questions about getting a pair of American Optical Original Pilot sunglasses.When they were issued by NASA to the flight crews, were they all the same size and color sunglasses? Were they all 52MM lenses and silver frames or did they use other size lenses and the gold frames as well? |
ejectr
Member Posts: 2074
From: Killingly, CT
Registered: Mar 2002
|
posted 05-19-2021 10:46 AM
I went by the remnants of what used to be AO in Southbridge, Massachusetts just yesterday. I used to sell them CNC machines. Now it's a DOD location.I've had a pair of AO sunglasses in the astronaut model for quite some time. They are gold frame. |
MartinAir
Member Posts: 517
From:
Registered: Oct 2020
|
posted 05-19-2021 01:49 PM
Did the astronauts issued models have green lenses? |
David C
Member Posts: 1485
From: Lausanne
Registered: Apr 2012
|
posted 05-20-2021 07:49 AM
No, they were issued with the same glasses as service pilots of the period. Gold 52mm frames with gray glass lenses. The gray lens is "neutral color," whereas green alters colors, which is considered unacceptable for military aviation. AO produced the originals, and then later on Randolph got the contract, in 1982 I think. Unfortunately, in recent years, as these have become popular with civilians, both have seen fit to modify their glasses. The frames now have a manufacturer’s logo molded into the arms, and the lenses have the same painted/ printed on the outside. Nothing can be done about the arms (find a vintage pair of frames). The lens markings can be removed with cotton buds and non-acetone nail polish remover. Randolph are much more expensive, but their arm logos are less obvious. Actually, that last part may not be true anymore. It looks like AO have toned down their arm logos. |
Martin1264
Member Posts: 23
From: Easton, Connecticut, USA
Registered: Aug 2010
|
posted 05-20-2021 07:00 PM
Thank you for the information. I always wondered about the size and color. |
mmcmurrey
Member Posts: 184
From: Austin, TX, USA
Registered: Jun 2012
|
posted 05-21-2021 10:46 AM
quote:
Originally posted by David C:
...whereas green alters colors, which is considered unacceptable for military aviation.
Your statement about "green/grey lenses is incorrect. I spent 21 years in USAF 1972-1993 and went through many AO issued sunglasses. They were all green tinted. Text on the AO glasses case is: SUNGLASSES HGU-4/P MIL-S-25948
IMPACT RESISTANT-NOT SAFETY GLASSES
AMERICAN OPTICAL CORP
DLA 100-79-C-2376 On the stems are stamped: 5 1/2 AO AMERICAN OPTICAL  |
drifting to the right
Member Posts: 171
From:
Registered: Aug 2006
|
posted 05-22-2021 08:46 AM
Mine also appear similar to those pictured (Army aviation issue 1976) except that I opted for the grotesquely misnamed "comfort loops" legs. The Army had obtained a supply left over from the Spanish Inquisition, as these were useful in keeping aviators awake, though distracted, while in agony from the throbbing bolts inflicted against the backs of one's ears after an hour of wear under a flight helmet. |
mmcmurrey
Member Posts: 184
From: Austin, TX, USA
Registered: Jun 2012
|
posted 05-22-2021 09:21 AM
I certainly can relate to your discomfort as I recall initial fitting of flight helmets and the "hot spots" till you got the adjustments made! The straight stem arms were great for wear with the helmets. |
drifting to the right
Member Posts: 171
From:
Registered: Aug 2006
|
posted 05-22-2021 09:47 AM
Oh yes, the "hot spots." Brings back memories. |
David C
Member Posts: 1485
From: Lausanne
Registered: Apr 2012
|
posted 05-22-2021 11:40 AM
quote:
Originally posted by mmcmurrey:
Your statement about "green/grey lenses is incorrect.
You’re dead right sir, how embarrassing. My experience dates from long after AO lost the contract. As for "comfort loops," hard to think of something worse named.A few other details: Size wise, the very earliest versions were quite small, with 4.5 inch temples and 49mm lenses. I think that's one of the things that got the weight down to win the competition. I can't be certain exactly what size each astronaut wore. They may have been different, e.g. Frank Borman was well known for having a physically large head. You’d have to measure the actual frames. In terms of manufacturers, AO (then long after Apollo, Randolph) were the prime contractors - other companies (such as General Optical) did produce military contract batches. The only way to be certain would be to read the frames. The best reference for what Apollo crews used is probably Chris Spain's site but even he doesn’t have all the information. |
MartinAir
Member Posts: 517
From:
Registered: Oct 2020
|
posted 05-22-2021 12:07 PM
Great conversation/info, thanks. Sun visors in most civilian cockpits are greenish as well. |
pupnik
Member Posts: 130
From: Maryland
Registered: Jan 2014
|
posted 05-22-2021 07:05 PM
Michael Collins' sunglasses were green lensed. Incidentally in the picture I'm almost certain the yellow earpieces and nose pieces is a result of age. They'd have been nearly clear when new. |
oly
Member Posts: 1544
From: Perth, Western Australia
Registered: Apr 2015
|
posted 05-22-2021 08:16 PM
quote:
Originally posted by drifting to the right:
Oh yes, the "hot spots."
The thermo-formed helmet liners for flight helmets were heated in an oven to soften them before being applied to the crewmembers head and a helmet shaped weight added to complete the forming process.I know of one pilot who disliked wearing the skull cap and insisted that the helmet be formed without one. The oven temp was accidentally set high, and the result was red bubble wrap marks on the scalp for a week. Needless to say, a range of new nicknames evolved. This gave new meaning to hot spots. |
David C
Member Posts: 1485
From: Lausanne
Registered: Apr 2012
|
posted 05-22-2021 11:20 PM
quote:
Originally posted by MartinAir:
Sun visors in most civilian cockpits are greenish as well.
I think you’re over generalising. Some are, but all the Airbus types I’ve flown were amber, and the Boeings were gray. |
mmcmurrey
Member Posts: 184
From: Austin, TX, USA
Registered: Jun 2012
|
posted 05-23-2021 11:17 AM
quote:
Originally posted by pupnik:
Incidentally in the picture I'm almost certain the yellow earpieces and nose pieces is a result of age.
You are correct on yellowish tint caused by aging and exposure to elements all those years. |
advertisement