Gemini Space suit
Encyclopedia
The Gemini space suit is a space suit
worn by astronauts for launch, in-flight activities (including EVA
s) and landing. It was designed by NASA based on the X-15 high-altitude pressure suit. All Gemini spacesuits were developed and manufactured by the David Clark Company
in Worcester, Massachusetts
.
mission. The G3C consisted of six layers of nylon (the innermost containing a rubberized nylon "bladder") and Nomex
, with a link net retaining layer and an outer layer of white Nomex fabric. It had removable combat-style boots, also made of Nomex fabric, along with a full-pressure helmet (containing a set of earphones and microphones) and gloves detachable by improved locking rings that allow easy rotation of the wrists. On Gemini 3
, the G3C suit was worn by both Gus Grissom
and John W. Young and was the only flight to use this suit.
The G4C suit was identical to the G3C suit, but came in two different styles. Both had additional layers of Mylar insulation for temperature control (+250°F in direct sunlight and -250°F in shadow), but the commander's suit retained the removable boots, while the pilot's version had integrated boots and a detachable sun visor which clipped onto the helmet. The G4C suit was worn by all crews from Gemini 4
to its end and it was in this suit that Ed White
made the first American spacewalk in 1965. Except for one modification, the incorporation of additional layers in the legs, as well as an outer layer of "Chromel-R" fabric on the Gemini 9A
spacesuit worn by Eugene Cernan (he was to test the Astronaut Maneuvering Unit, which used hydrogen peroxide as its fuel), and the replacement of the plexiglas helmet faceplate with one made of polycarbonate
plastic.
mission, both Frank Borman
and Jim Lovell
wore modified G3C suits, but incorporating several changes:
This configuration is the G5C suit. During the mission, Lovell was the first person to take his pressure suit off, which was achieved with great difficulty due to his size. Borman later was able to get his suit off and biomedical data collected during the flight revealed that astronauts would be more comfortable during the flight when wearing flight suits during "non-critical" phases of the mission. This led to the wearing of such flight suits from Apollo 7
to the present day. This suit somewhat resembles the current Soyuz Sokol
pressure suits worn by Russian-launched ISS
crews.
, Hamilton Sundstrand
, and David Clark), NASA decided to use the G3C as a base for the new "A1C" suit. Using the base G3C suit, but with a white nomex cover layer from the G4C and G5C suits, the new A1C suits had new electrical and environmental disconnects, a protective shell over the plexiglas visor (plexiglas was used instead of polycarbonate due to its expense), and with a launch escape system
in place of ejector seats, a yellow-colored U-shaped inflatable "Mae West" PFD
replaced the pilot parachute and its harness. Unfortunately, the Apollo 1
accident, which killed astronauts Grissom, White, and Roger Chaffee resulted in NASA cancelling the "Block I" program and starting with the flight of Apollo 7
, all Apollo equipment, including spacesuits, was tested using the "Block II" configuration. This included the docking equipment on the Apollo CM and the ILC A7L space suit
.
Since Apollo, the Gemini spacesuit was looked at for the Manned Orbiting Laboratory
program, but it has since been used as the baseline for all high-altitude pressure suits worn by U.S. Air Force, and later by NASA as its current ACES pressure suit. On June 11, 2008, the David Clark Company was selected by the Houston, Texas
-based Oceaneering International
as a subcontractor for the manufacture of the new Constellation Space Suit
system, in which its "Operation One" configuration, resembles the current ACES suit, but functions in the same manner as that of the Gemini suit.
but not used and the other for the Astronaut Maneuvering Unit (provide an hour's worth of life support) carried on-board Gemini 9 and to fly while tethered but was not used. The AMU was also meant to be launched and flown on-board Gemini 12
, and to fly untethered from the Gemini spacecraft but was scrubbed two months before the mission.
Name: Gemini G3C Spacesuit
Manufacturer: David Clark Company
Missions: Gemini 3
, Gemini 6 (Schirra), Gemini 8
(Armstrong)
Function: Intra-vehicular activity (IVA) and Ejection
Operating Pressure: 3.7 psi (25.5 kPa)
Suit Weight: 23.5 lb (10.7 kg)
Primary Life Support: Vehicle Provided
Backup Life Support: Vehicle Provided
Name: Gemini G4C Spacesuit
Manufacturer: David Clark Company
Missions: Gemini 4-6, 8-12
Function: Intra-vehicular activity (IVA), Ejection and orbit
al Extra-vehicular activity
(EVA)
Operating Pressure: 3.7 psi (25.5 kPa)
Suit Weight: 34 lb (15.4 kg)
Ventilation Control Module (VCM) weight (Gemini 4
): 7.75 lb (3.52 kg)
Extravehicular Life Support System (ELSS) weight (Gemini 8-12): 47 lb (21.3 kg)
Primary Life Support: Vehicle Provided
Backup Life Support (Gemini 4): 9 minutes
Backup Life Support (Gemini 5,6,8-12): 30 minutes
Name: Gemini G5C Spacesuit
Manufacturer: David Clark Company
Missions: Gemini 7
Function: Intra-vehicular activity (IVA) and Ejection
Operating Pressure: 3.7 psi (25.5 kPa)
Suit Weight: 16 lb (7.2 kg)
Primary Life Support: Vehicle Provided
Backup Life Support: Vehicle Provided
Space suit
A space suit is a garment worn to keep an astronaut alive in the harsh environment of outer space. Space suits are often worn inside spacecraft as a safety precaution in case of loss of cabin pressure, and are necessary for extra-vehicular activity , work done outside spacecraft...
worn by astronauts for launch, in-flight activities (including EVA
Extra-vehicular activity
Extra-vehicular activity is work done by an astronaut away from the Earth, and outside of a spacecraft. The term most commonly applies to an EVA made outside a craft orbiting Earth , but also applies to an EVA made on the surface of the Moon...
s) and landing. It was designed by NASA based on the X-15 high-altitude pressure suit. All Gemini spacesuits were developed and manufactured by the David Clark Company
David Clark Company
David Clark Company, Inc. is an American manufacturer, best known for noise attenuating headsets with boom microphones for use in military aviation, commercial aviation, industry and professional communication in high-noise environments...
in Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester is a city and the county seat of Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. Named after Worcester, England, as of the 2010 Census the city's population is 181,045, making it the second largest city in New England after Boston....
.
G3C and G4C suits
The G3C and G4C suits were the primary spacesuits worn for all but the Gemini 7Gemini 7
Gemini 7 was a 1965 manned spaceflight in NASA's Gemini program. It was the 4th manned Gemini flight, the 12th manned American flight and the 20th spaceflight of all time . The crew of Frank F. Borman, II and James A...
mission. The G3C consisted of six layers of nylon (the innermost containing a rubberized nylon "bladder") and Nomex
Nomex
Nomex is a registered trademark for flame resistant meta-aramid material developed in the early 1960s by DuPont and first marketed in 1967.- Properties:...
, with a link net retaining layer and an outer layer of white Nomex fabric. It had removable combat-style boots, also made of Nomex fabric, along with a full-pressure helmet (containing a set of earphones and microphones) and gloves detachable by improved locking rings that allow easy rotation of the wrists. On Gemini 3
Gemini 3
Gemini 3 was the first manned mission in NASA's Gemini program, the second American manned space program. On March 23, 1965, the spacecraft, nicknamed The Molly Brown, performed the seventh manned US spaceflight, and the 17th manned spaceflight overall...
, the G3C suit was worn by both Gus Grissom
Gus Grissom
Virgil Ivan Grissom , , better known as Gus Grissom, was one of the original NASA Project Mercury astronauts and a United States Air Force pilot...
and John W. Young and was the only flight to use this suit.
The G4C suit was identical to the G3C suit, but came in two different styles. Both had additional layers of Mylar insulation for temperature control (+250°F in direct sunlight and -250°F in shadow), but the commander's suit retained the removable boots, while the pilot's version had integrated boots and a detachable sun visor which clipped onto the helmet. The G4C suit was worn by all crews from Gemini 4
Gemini 4
Gemini 4 was the second manned space flight in NASA's Project Gemini, occurring in June 1965. It was the tenth manned American spaceflight . Astronauts James McDivitt and Edward H. White, II circled the Earth 66 times in four days, making it the first US flight to approach the five-day flight of...
to its end and it was in this suit that Ed White
Edward Higgins White
Edward Higgins White, II was an engineer, United States Air Force officer and NASA astronaut. On June 3, 1965, he became the first American to "walk" in space. White died along with fellow astronauts Gus Grissom and Roger Chaffee during a pre-launch test for the first manned Apollo mission at...
made the first American spacewalk in 1965. Except for one modification, the incorporation of additional layers in the legs, as well as an outer layer of "Chromel-R" fabric on the Gemini 9A
Gemini 9A
- Backup crew :- Original primary crew :- Mission parameters :* Mass: * Perigee: * Apogee: * Inclination: 28.91°* Period: 88.78 min- 1st rendezvous :* June 3, 1966 - 17:45 - 18:00 UTC- Spacewalk :* Cernan...
spacesuit worn by Eugene Cernan (he was to test the Astronaut Maneuvering Unit, which used hydrogen peroxide as its fuel), and the replacement of the plexiglas helmet faceplate with one made of polycarbonate
Polycarbonate
PolycarbonatePhysical PropertiesDensity 1.20–1.22 g/cm3Abbe number 34.0Refractive index 1.584–1.586FlammabilityV0-V2Limiting oxygen index25–27%Water absorption – Equilibrium0.16–0.35%Water absorption – over 24 hours0.1%...
plastic.
G5C suits
For the 14-day Gemini 7Gemini 7
Gemini 7 was a 1965 manned spaceflight in NASA's Gemini program. It was the 4th manned Gemini flight, the 12th manned American flight and the 20th spaceflight of all time . The crew of Frank F. Borman, II and James A...
mission, both Frank Borman
Frank Borman
Frank Frederick Borman, II is a retired NASA astronaut and engineer, best remembered as the Commander of Apollo 8, the first mission to fly around the Moon, making him, along with fellow crew mates Jim Lovell and Bill Anders, the first of only 24 humans to do so...
and Jim Lovell
Jim Lovell
James "Jim" Arthur Lovell, Jr., is a former NASA astronaut and a retired captain in the United States Navy, most famous as the commander of the Apollo 13 mission, which suffered a critical failure en route to the Moon but was brought back safely to Earth by the efforts of the crew and mission...
wore modified G3C suits, but incorporating several changes:
- Replacement of the pressure helmet and neck ring with a zippered hood incorporating a clear, fixed polycarbonate visor, with the astronauts wearing modified Navy-style aviator crash helmets that incorporated the communication equipment (microphones and earphones).
- Additional zippers for in-flight adjustment, along with provisions for complete removal of the suit.
This configuration is the G5C suit. During the mission, Lovell was the first person to take his pressure suit off, which was achieved with great difficulty due to his size. Borman later was able to get his suit off and biomedical data collected during the flight revealed that astronauts would be more comfortable during the flight when wearing flight suits during "non-critical" phases of the mission. This led to the wearing of such flight suits from Apollo 7
Apollo 7
Apollo 7 was the first manned mission in the American Apollo space program, and the first manned US space flight after a cabin fire killed the crew of what was to have been the first manned mission, AS-204 , during a launch pad test in 1967...
to the present day. This suit somewhat resembles the current Soyuz Sokol
Sokol space suit
The Sokol space suit is a type of Russian space suit, worn by all who fly on the Soyuz spacecraft. It was introduced in 1973 and is still used . The Sokol is described by its makers as a rescue suit, and it is not capable of being used outside the spacecraft in a spacewalk or extra-vehicular...
pressure suits worn by Russian-launched ISS
International Space Station
The International Space Station is a habitable, artificial satellite in low Earth orbit. The ISS follows the Salyut, Almaz, Cosmos, Skylab, and Mir space stations, as the 11th space station launched, not including the Genesis I and II prototypes...
crews.
After Gemini
After the ending of Gemini, the Gemini space suit was chosen by NASA for the initial Apollo "Block I" testing phase of the program. Since no dockings or EVAs were scheduled for the first manned Apollo flight, and with NASA searching for a suitable lunar EVA suit for the "Block II" phase of the program (a competition between ILC DoverILC Dover
ILC Dover, LP is an engineering development and manufacturing company based in Frederica, Delaware. ILC specializes in the use of high-performance flexible materials, serving the aerospace, personal protection, and pharmaceutical industries.Best known for making space suits for NASA, ILC...
, Hamilton Sundstrand
Hamilton Sundstrand
Hamilton Sundstrand, is a global corporation that manufactures and supports aerospace and industrial products for worldwide markets. It was formed from the merger of Hamilton Standard and Sundstrand Corporation in 1999. A subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation, HS is headquartered in Windsor...
, and David Clark), NASA decided to use the G3C as a base for the new "A1C" suit. Using the base G3C suit, but with a white nomex cover layer from the G4C and G5C suits, the new A1C suits had new electrical and environmental disconnects, a protective shell over the plexiglas visor (plexiglas was used instead of polycarbonate due to its expense), and with a launch escape system
Launch escape system
A Launch Escape System is a top-mounted rocket connected to the crew module of a crewed spacecraft and used to quickly separate the crew module from the rest of the rocket in case of emergency. Since the escape rockets are above the crew module, an LES typically uses separate nozzles which are...
in place of ejector seats, a yellow-colored U-shaped inflatable "Mae West" PFD
Personal flotation device
A personal flotation device is a device designed to assist a wearer, either conscious or unconscious, to keep afloat.Devices designed and approved by authorities for use by...
replaced the pilot parachute and its harness. Unfortunately, the Apollo 1
Apollo 1
Apollo 1 was scheduled to be the first manned mission of the Apollo manned lunar landing program, with a target launch date of February 21, 1967. A cabin fire during a launch pad test on January 27 at Launch Pad 34 at Cape Canaveral killed all three crew members: Command Pilot Virgil "Gus"...
accident, which killed astronauts Grissom, White, and Roger Chaffee resulted in NASA cancelling the "Block I" program and starting with the flight of Apollo 7
Apollo 7
Apollo 7 was the first manned mission in the American Apollo space program, and the first manned US space flight after a cabin fire killed the crew of what was to have been the first manned mission, AS-204 , during a launch pad test in 1967...
, all Apollo equipment, including spacesuits, was tested using the "Block II" configuration. This included the docking equipment on the Apollo CM and the ILC A7L space suit
Apollo/Skylab A7L
The A7L Apollo & Skylab spacesuit is the primary pressure suit worn by NASA astronauts for Project Apollo, the three manned Skylab 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...
.
Since Apollo, the Gemini spacesuit was looked at for the Manned Orbiting Laboratory
Manned Orbiting Laboratory
The Manned Orbiting Laboratory , originally referred to as the Manned Orbital Laboratory, was part of the United States Air Force's manned spaceflight program, a successor to the cancelled Boeing X-20 Dyna-Soar military reconnaissance space plane project...
program, but it has since been used as the baseline for all high-altitude pressure suits worn by U.S. Air Force, and later by NASA as its current ACES pressure suit. On June 11, 2008, the David Clark Company was selected by the Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
-based Oceaneering International
Oceaneering International
Oceaneering International Inc. is an applied technology company based in Houston, Texas, U.S.A. that provides engineered services and hardware to customers who operate in marine, space, and other environments...
as a subcontractor for the manufacture of the new Constellation Space Suit
Constellation Space Suit
The Constellation Space Suit was a planned full pressure suit system that would have served as an intra-vehicular activity and Extra-vehicular activity garment for the proposed Project Constellation flights, which were planned to begin after the Space Shuttle retired...
system, in which its "Operation One" configuration, resembles the current ACES suit, but functions in the same manner as that of the Gemini suit.
Specifications
The suit family system included both parachute and flotation systems. For EVAs Gemini 4 used the Ventilation Control Module (VCM), for Gemini 8-12 the Extravehicular Life Support System (ELSS) was used. The ELSS was also designed to optionally supply autonomous life support though they never made it to EVA, two oxygen supply packs were developed for it, one was the Extravehicular Support Package (ESP)(provide an hour's worth of life support) carried aboard Gemini 8Gemini 8
-Backup crew:-Mission parameters:* Mass: * Perigee: * Apogee: * Inclination: 28.91°* Period: 88.83 min-Objectives:Gemini VIII had two major objectives, of which it achieved one...
but not used and the other for the Astronaut Maneuvering Unit (provide an hour's worth of life support) carried on-board Gemini 9 and to fly while tethered but was not used. The AMU was also meant to be launched and flown on-board Gemini 12
Gemini 12
-Backup crew:-Mission parameters:*Mass: *Perigee: *Apogee: *Inclination: 28.87°*Period: 88.87 min-Docking:*Docked: November 12, 1966 - 01:06:00 UTC*Undocked: November 13, 1966 - 20:18:00 UTC-Space walk:...
, and to fly untethered from the Gemini spacecraft but was scrubbed two months before the mission.
Name: Gemini G3C Spacesuit
Manufacturer: David Clark Company
Missions: Gemini 3
Gemini 3
Gemini 3 was the first manned mission in NASA's Gemini program, the second American manned space program. On March 23, 1965, the spacecraft, nicknamed The Molly Brown, performed the seventh manned US spaceflight, and the 17th manned spaceflight overall...
, Gemini 6 (Schirra), Gemini 8
Gemini 8
-Backup crew:-Mission parameters:* Mass: * Perigee: * Apogee: * Inclination: 28.91°* Period: 88.83 min-Objectives:Gemini VIII had two major objectives, of which it achieved one...
(Armstrong)
Function: Intra-vehicular activity (IVA) and Ejection
Operating Pressure: 3.7 psi (25.5 kPa)
Suit Weight: 23.5 lb (10.7 kg)
Primary Life Support: Vehicle Provided
Backup Life Support: Vehicle Provided
Name: Gemini G4C Spacesuit
Manufacturer: David Clark Company
Missions: Gemini 4-6, 8-12
Function: Intra-vehicular activity (IVA), Ejection and orbit
Orbit
In physics, an orbit is the gravitationally curved path of an object around a point in space, for example the orbit of a planet around the center of a star system, such as the Solar System...
al Extra-vehicular activity
Extra-vehicular activity
Extra-vehicular activity is work done by an astronaut away from the Earth, and outside of a spacecraft. The term most commonly applies to an EVA made outside a craft orbiting Earth , but also applies to an EVA made on the surface of the Moon...
(EVA)
Operating Pressure: 3.7 psi (25.5 kPa)
Suit Weight: 34 lb (15.4 kg)
Ventilation Control Module (VCM) weight (Gemini 4
Gemini 4
Gemini 4 was the second manned space flight in NASA's Project Gemini, occurring in June 1965. It was the tenth manned American spaceflight . Astronauts James McDivitt and Edward H. White, II circled the Earth 66 times in four days, making it the first US flight to approach the five-day flight of...
): 7.75 lb (3.52 kg)
Extravehicular Life Support System (ELSS) weight (Gemini 8-12): 47 lb (21.3 kg)
Primary Life Support: Vehicle Provided
Backup Life Support (Gemini 4): 9 minutes
Backup Life Support (Gemini 5,6,8-12): 30 minutes
Name: Gemini G5C Spacesuit
Manufacturer: David Clark Company
Missions: Gemini 7
Gemini 7
Gemini 7 was a 1965 manned spaceflight in NASA's Gemini program. It was the 4th manned Gemini flight, the 12th manned American flight and the 20th spaceflight of all time . The crew of Frank F. Borman, II and James A...
Function: Intra-vehicular activity (IVA) and Ejection
Operating Pressure: 3.7 psi (25.5 kPa)
Suit Weight: 16 lb (7.2 kg)
Primary Life Support: Vehicle Provided
Backup Life Support: Vehicle Provided