Helmet Stowage Bag
(aka LEVA Bag)
Apollo 11 Helmet Stowage Bag. Illustration courtesy ILC
Historian, Bill Aryey.
(Click
on the image for a larger version)
Summary
Although it is called the Helmet Stowage Bag (HSB), its primary function was stowage of the Lunar Extravehicular Visor Assembly and the EVA gloves. On all missions, for Earth launch, the HSBs were stowed on the LM cabin floor, one on either side of the LMP's PLSS (diagram below). Later, in preparation for the descent and landing, the LM crew secured the HSBs out of the way on the Ascent Engine cover.
On all the missions, in preparation for Lunar launch, the crews stowed the LEVAs and EVA gloves in the HSBs and secured them on the engine cover for the return to lunar orbit. They were taken along, rather than being jettisoned on the lunar surface, in case the LM crew was unable to dock with the Command Module and had to make an EVA transfer. On Apollo 11, 12, and 14, once a successful docking had been made and the rock boxes and other gear were transferred to the CM, the HSBs were left behind in the in the LM cabin. On the last three missions, the HSBs were transferred to the CM so that the LEVAs and gloves could be used during the CMP's EVA done to retrieve film canisters from the Service Module.
Disposition of the HSBs evolved from mission to mission:
- Apollo 11 - once the LEVAs and gloves had been removed from the HSBs during EVA prep, the HSB were stowed in the Lunar Overshoe Compartment. After the EVA, the LEVAs and gloves were re-stowed in the HSBs.
- Apollo 12 - during EVA-1, the HSBs were stowed in the placed in the then-empty SRC (Sample Return Container or rock box) stowage area. After EVA-1, the LEVAs, gloves, and pressure helmets were stowed in the HSBs, which were placed on the cabin floor for the rest period. In preparations for EVA-2, the empty HSBs were returned to the SRC stowage area. After the EVA, in preparation for launch, the LEVAs and gloves were re-stowed in the HSBs, which were secured on the engine cover.
- Apollo 14 - once the LEVAs and gloves were removed from the HSBs during EVA-1 prep, the empty HSBs were placed in the SRC stowage area, where they remained until after EVA-2. During the rest period, straps were used to hang the LEVAs up and out of the way.
- Apollo 15 - prior to the SEVA, the LEVAs and EVA gloves were removed from the HSBs, which were stowed "under the OPS" which presumably means under the OPS stowage location in the back of the cabin. They HSBs stayed there until after EVA-3. For stowage of the LEVAs and pressure helmets during the rest periods, the crew had a "Helmet and LEVA Interim Stowage Container Assembly", which was a open-weave container with a pouch for each of the LEVAs. It could be hung - perhaps at the back of the cabin - after an EVA and then be removed during EVA Preps.
- Apollo 16 and 17 - identical disposition except that the LEVAs
and gloves weren't unpacked until EVA-1 preps
Procedure for stowing the EVA gloves and LEVA in the HSB
Bill Ayrey has provided a digital copy of the stowage instructions that were written on the HSB blueprint. The list reads up from the bottom. (Click on the image for a larger version.)
HSB Stowage for Earth Lauch and and Lunar Landing
Detail from Figure 1-7 in the LM10 Handbook, Vol. 1,
showing the
two HSBs stowed on the LM cabin floor for Earth launch.
(Click on the image for a full view of the front of the cabin.)
Detail from Figure 1-11 in the LM10 Handbook, Vol. 1.,
showing the two HSBs stowed on the Ascent Engine Cover for
the descent and landing and, later, for the return to lunar orbit.
(Click on the image for a full view of the back of the cabin.
Details of HSB Disposition During the Missions
| Action |
Mission Phase |
Source |
Apollo 11 |
||
| Helmet stowage bags - containing LEVAs, gloves, etc - stowed on cabin floor | LM (Earth) Launch | A11 Stowage lists, List B, LM Launch Stowage List, page 41 |
| HSBs secured on ascent engine
cover |
Preps for descent and landing |
Diagrams above |
| "Remove LEVA's and EV gloves
from helmet bags and stow aft of engine" |
Post-Sleep, EVA Prep, PLSS/OPS
Donning |
LM
Lunar Surface Checklist, page 27 |
| "Stow helmet bags in top lunar
overshoe comp(artment)" |
Post-Sleep, EVA Prep, PLSS/OPS Donning | LM Lunar Surface Checklist, page 27 |
| No further mention of
LEVAs or helmet bags in LM LS Checklist |
||
| Helmet stowage bags - containing LEVAs, gloves, etc - stowed on ascent engine cover | LM (Lunar) Launch |
A11 Stowage lists, List D, LM Launch Stowage List, page 62 |
| No mention of the
helmet bags or LEVAs in the LM-to-CM or EM Entry Stowage Lists |
||
Apollo 12
|
||
| Visors, gloves, etc in the HSBs on the LM cabin floor | LM (Earth) Launch | Apollo 12 Stowage Lists, List B, LM (Earth) Launch Stowage List, page 41 |
| HSBs secured on ascent engine cover | Preps for descent and landing | Diagrams above |
| "Stow helmet bags on floor;
Position helmets on aft engine cover" |
Equipment Prep for EVA-1 |
LM Lunar Surface Checklist, page
Sur-26 |
| "Stow helmet bag of RH engine
cover" |
Equipment Prep for EVA-1 | LM Lunar Surface Checklist, page Sur-27 |
| (Undoubtedly after removing
visors and gloves) "Position helmet bags in SRC (stowage) area" |
Helmet/Glove donning for EVA-1 |
LM Lunar Surface Checklist, page Sur-30 |
| "Doff gloves, helmets with
visors and stow on Eng Cover" |
Post EVA systems configuration |
LM Lunar Surface Checklist, page Sur-60 |
| "Stow EV gloves, helmets, and
visors in helmet bags; stow helmet bags on floor" |
PLSS/OPS Doffing |
LM Lunar Surface Checklist, page Sur-62 |
| Stowage diagram for sleep period |
Configure Sleep Stations and
Stowage |
LM Lunar Surface Checklist, page Sur-64 |
| "Stow helmet bags on Eng Cover" |
Post-Sleep |
LM Lunar Surface Checklist, page Sur-65 |
| "Stow helmet bags on LH cabin
floor" |
Equip. Prep for EVA-2 |
LM Lunar Surface Checklist, page Sur-67 |
| "Position helmet bags on Eng
Cover; Stow visors, helmets, and EV gloves on RH eng cover;
position helmet bags in SRC area" |
Equip. Prep for EVA-2 | LM Lunar Surface Checklist, page Sur-67 |
| "Stow EV gloves and visors in
helmet bags; secure helmet bags on engine cover" |
Post EVA-2 Cabin Cleanup |
LM Lunar Surface Checklist, page Sur-97 |
| Visors, gloves, etc in HSBs on
Ascent Engine Cover |
LM (Lunar) Launch |
Apollo 12 Stowage Lists, List D, LM (Earth) Launch Stowage List, page 66 |
| No mention of the
helmet bags or LEVAs in the LM-to-CM or EM Entry Stowage Lists |
||
Apollo 14
|
||
| HSBs, containing LEVAs, EV
gloves, etc secured on LM cabin floor |
Earth launch |
Apollo
14 Stowage Lists, List B, LM Earth Launch, page 50 |
| HSBs secured on ascent engine cover | Preps for descent and landing | Diagrams above |
| "Stow LEVA bags on floor, 1
left, 1 right; position (pressure) helmets on armrests" |
Equipment Prep for EVA-1 |
LM Lunar Surface Checklist, page
2-5 |
| "Unstow LEVA's; Stow LEVA's,
then helmets on RH Eng Cov, stow EV gloves on Comm panels; stow LEVA
bags in SRC Area" |
Equipment Prep for EVA-1 | LM Lunar Surface Checklist, page 2-6 |
| "Doff gloves, stow on comm
panel; doff helmets with visors, stowon RH eng cover, Top ETB" |
Post EVA-1 Systems Configuration |
LM Lunar Surface Checklist, page 4-1 |
| Stowage diagram. "Unstow 2
interim stowage straps; place one LEVA , Blue tether; hang LEVA on
recharge station brkt +Z27 (bulkhead)' stow other LEVA aft LH eng cover" Note that they are not stowing the LEVAs in the LEVA bag for the rest period and are giving themselves more room for the hammocks. |
Configure Sleep Stations |
LM Lunar Surface Checklist, page 4-6 |
| "Stow LEVAs on aft eng cover" |
Post-Sleep |
LM Lunar Surface Checklist, page 4-7 |
| "Stow EV gloaves and visors in
LEVA bags (visors aft); stow LEVA bags on floor, 1 Rt, 1 Left" |
Post-EVA Cabin clean-up |
LM Lunar Surface Checklist, page 7-4 |
| "Stow LEVA bags on engine cover" |
Post-EVA Cabin clean-up | LM Lunar Surface Checklist, page 7-5 |
| HSBs on engine cover |
Lunar launch |
Apollo 14 Stowage Lists, List D, LM Lunar Launch, page 77 |
|
No mention of the helmet bags or
LEVAs in the LM-to-CM or EM Entry Stowage Lists
|
||
Apollo 15
|
||
| HSBs, containing LEVAs, EV gloves, etc secured on LM cabin floor (locations 1-Fa/1-F10) | Earth launch |
Apollo
15 Stowage Lists, List B, Pages 50 and 54 |
| Helmet and LEVA Interim Stowage
Container Assembly (HLISCA, location F9) |
Earth launch | Apollo 15 Stowage Lists, List B, Pages 55 |
| HSBs secured on ascent engine cover | Preps for descent and landing | Diagrams above |
| "Stow LEVA bags on floor, 1
left, 1 right; Install Helmet Bag" (Helmet and LEVA Interim Stowage
Container). Gene Cernan and Jack Schmitt believe that, what Gene
called the "BRA" was hung up at the back of the cabin. |
SEVA Equipment Prep |
LM
Lunar Surface Checklist, page 2-1,
left column |
| "Stow LEVA's, (pressure)
helmets, EV gloves on eng cover; Stow LEVA bags under OPS" |
SEVA Equipment Prep |
LM Lunar Surface Checklist, page 2-1, right column |
| "Doff gloves, stow on comm panel; Doff helmets with visors, stow in helmet bag (HLISCA)" | Post-SEVA Systems Configuration |
LM Lunar Surface Checklist, page 2-4, right column |
| Between EVAs, the
LEVAs and pressure helmets are stowed in the HLISCA, which is thrown
out in the final jettison in preparation for LM launch as per page 11-3. |
||
| "Doff gloves, stow on comm
panel; Doff helmets with visors, stow on ISS" |
Post-Jettison |
LM Lunar Surface Checklist, page 11-4, right column |
| "Stow EV gloves and visors
(remove helmets) in LEVA bags (visors aft); Place LEVA bags on floor, 1
Rt, 1 Left |
Cabin Clean-up |
LM Lunar Surface Checklist, page 12-3, left column |
| Secure LEVA bags on Eng Cover |
Cabin Clean-up | LM Lunar Surface Checklist, page 12-3, right column |
| HSBs on engine cover (location A3) | Lunar launch | Apollo 15 Stowage Lists, List D, LM Lunar Launch, pages 83 and 86 |
| HSB, containing EV gloves and
LEVA |
Transfer from LM to CM |
Apollo
15 Stowage Lists, List E, LM to CM Transfer, pages 105 and 106 |
| HSB, containing EV gloves and LEVA | CM Re-entry |
Apollo 15 Stowage Lists, List F, CM Entry, pages 128 and and 129 |
Apollo 16
|
||
| Stowage during flight portions
identical to Apollo 15 |
Flight portions |
Apollo
16 Stowage Lists |
| Planned disposition of the HSBs
during the lunar surface stay identical to Apollo 15 except
for the fact that there was no Apollo 16 SEVA. The six-hour
landing delay dictated schedule and checklist changes. The crew
had planned to do an EVA before having a rest period but, because of
the long-day, had a rest period first. |
LM
Lunar Surface Checklist |
|
| "Stow LEVA's, helmets, and EV
gloves on ISS; Stow LEVA bags under SRC compt (compartment); Stow
helmet bag (HLISCA) |
EVA-1 Preps |
LM
Lunar Surface Checklist, page 2-5,
right column |
Apollo 17
|
||
| Stowage during flight portions
identical to Apollo 15 and 16 |
Apollo
17 Stowage Lists |
|
| Lunar stay HSB disposition
identical to Apollo 16 as-planned |
LM
Lunar Surface Checklist |
|
