The design processes behind a giant leap for mankind. Neil Armstrong in a space suit on the moon remains an iconic representation of America's technological ingenuity. Few know that the Model A-7L pressure suit worn by the Apollo 11 astronauts, and the Model A-7LB that replaced it in 1971, originated at ILC Industries (now ILC Dover, LP), an obscure Delaware industrial firm.Longtime ILC space suit test engineer Bill Ayrey draws on original files and photographs to tell the dramatic story of the company's role in the Apollo Program. Though respected for its early designs, ILC failed to win NASA's faith. When the government called for new suit concepts in 1965, ILC had to plead for consideration before NASA gave it a mere six weeks to come up with a radically different design. ILC not only met the deadline but won the contract. That underdog success led to its greatest challenge: winning a race against time to create a suit that would determine the success or failure of the Apollo missions-and life or death for the astronauts. A fascinating behind-the-scenes history of a vital component of the space program, Lunar Outfitters goes inside the suit that made it possible for human beings to set foot on the Moon.
Author(s): Bill Ayrey
Publisher: University Press of Florida
Year: 2020
Language: English
Pages: 422
City: Gainesville
Cover
Half Title
Title
Copyright
Contents
Preface
Introduction
Part I. Humble Beginnings
1. School of Hard Knocks
2. Developing the State-of-the-Art Space Suit
3. The Turbulent Years, 1962–1965
4. Second Chances: The Model AX-5L and A-5L Suits
Part II. Building the Moon Suits
5. The Model A-5L Space Suit Contract
6. The Model A-6L Space Suit: Unveiling the First Moon Suit
7. The Model A-7L Space Suit, 1967–1971
8. The Model A-7LB Space Suit: The Next Generation, 1971–1975
Part III. Post-Lunar Missions
9. Skylab, the Apollo-Soyuz Test Program, and Other Development Suits
10. End of a Historic Era
Conclusion: Preserving Our Treasures; The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum
Acknowledgments
Appendix A: Technical Details of the Apollo Space Suits
Appendix B: Apollo Part Numbers and Serial Numbers
Appendix C: Apollo Contract Details
Appendix D: Astronaut Code Names
Appendix E: A-7LB Suit Plug Loads and Fabric Stresses
Timeline of Significant Events
Glossary
Notes
Further Reading
Index
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z
