Description
Book SynopsisLongtime 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. A fascinating behind-the-scenes history of a vital component of the space program, this book goes inside the suit that made it possible for human beings to set foot on the moon.
Trade ReviewAn excellent addition to the existing literature on this subject. . . . [We can] hope that current space suit designers are reading Ayrey's book and learning the lessons it has to teach." -
Quest: The History of Spaceflight QuarterlyTable of 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
