National Air and Space Museum Archives

Space Suit Component and Survival Rucksack Collection

Summary

Collection ID:
NASM.1988.0114
Creators:
United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Dates:
1966-1977
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
3.36 Cubic feet
(2 Records center boxes) (2 flatboxes)
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
This collection documents the development of space suits and accessories for post-Mercury manned missions. The material includes acceptance data packages and test papers for the suits, life support systems, and survival rucksack which chart the testing and development of these systems.

Arrangement

Arrangement
Arrangement: The papers are arranged chronologically by program, beginning with the Gemini mission in Folder One of Box One (S-1C-1). The papers continue chronologically until concluding with the Skylab and Shuttle missions in Folder 28 of Box Two. Box Three contains binders from the Blue David Clark Co., Inc. These binders include operational logs from NASA and the field, malfunction reports, maintenance logs and serialization control records. Blue prints of the systems tested are also included. Box Four includes two computer printouts. Printout number one contains the summary of hardware located at the Smithsonian as of 3-27-1973. Number two contains the summary of hardware located at the Smithsonian as of 9-10-1973.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) was inaugurated on 1 October 1958 with the intent of conducting a manned space program. NASA took over the rocketry and propulsion work previously performed by the United States Air Force, Navy, and National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics. Unmanned launches began during the International Geophysical Year (1957-58) under Air Force auspices and have continued to the present with a wide variety of payloads, including space science, weather, communications, and earth observation satellites. The manned program progressed through Projects Mercury (1959-63; launches 1961-63), Gemini (1962-67; launches 1965-66), Apollo (1960-72; launches 1968-72), and Skylab (1969-74; launches 1973-74). After a hiatus following the Skylab program, the manned program focused on the Space Shuttle, a reusable spacecraft. The manned program was supported by a number of unmanned exploration vehicles in the Ranger, Lunar Orbiter, and Surveyor series throughout the 1960s, as well as research into a number of related areas.

Administration

Immediate Source of Acquisition
NASA, Transfer, 1988, 1988-0114, unknown

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access
Conditions Governing Use
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests

More Information

General

General
NASMrev


Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Space shuttles Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Space suits Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Manned space flight Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Astronautics Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Drawings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Logs (records) Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Reports Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Project Apollo (U.S.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Project Gemini (U.S.) Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Skylab Program Corporate Name Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

National Air and Space Museum Archives
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NASMRefDesk@si.edu