Neil Armstrong described his Apollo 11 A7L space suit as "tough, reliable and almost cuddly."
[1] The A7L Apollo & Skylab spacesuit is the primary pressure suit worn by NASA astronauts for Project Apollo, the three mannedSkylab flights, and the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project between 1968 and the termination of the Apollo program in 1975. The "A7L" designation is used by NASA as the seventh Apollo spacesuit designed and built by ILC Dover. The A7L is a design evolution of ILC's initial design A5L and the A6L, which introduced the integrated thermal and micrometeroid cover layer. After the deadlyApollo 1 fire, the suit was upgraded to be fire-resistant and given the designation A7L.[2][3]
Basic design[edit]
A7L without outer-layer and visor assembly
Apollo 11 A7L space suit worn by
Buzz Aldrin on lunar surface
The basic design of the A7L suit was a one piece, five-layer "torso-limb" suit with convoluted joints made of synthetic and natural rubber at the shoulders, elbows, wrist, hips, ankle, and knee joints, "link-net" meshing to prevent the suit from ballooning at the joints, and a shoulder "cable block" assembly to allow the shoulder to be extended and retracted by its wearer. Metal rings at the neck and forearms allowed for the connection of the pressure gloves and the famous Apollo "fishbowl helmet" (adopted by NASA as it allowed an unrestricted view, as well as eliminating the need for a visor seal required in the Mercury and Gemini and Apollo Block I spacesuit helmets). A cover layer, which was designed to be fireproof after the deadly Apollo 1 fire, was attached to the pressure garment assembly and was removable for repairs and inspection. All A7L suits featured a vertical zipper that went from the shoulder assembly of the suit down to the crotch for entering and exiting the suit.
Specifications[edit]
- Name: Apollo A7L Spacesuit
- Manufacturer: International Latex Corporation (ILC) Dover and Hamilton Standard (primary life support systems)[4]
- Missions: Apollo 7-14[4]
- Function: Intra-vehicular activity (IVA), orbital Extra-vehicular activity and terrestrial Extra-vehicular activity (EVA)[4]
- Operating Pressure: 3.7 psi (25.5 kPa)[4]
- IVA Suit Weight: 62 lb (28.1 kg)[4]
- EVA Suit Weight: 76 lb (34.5 kg)[4]
- Total EVA Suit Weight 200 lb (91 kg)[4]
- Primary Life Support: 6 hours[4]
- Backup Life Support: 30 minutes[4]
