Buzz Aldrin's Apollo 11 Suit
Photographed at the National Air and Space Museum's Garber Facility
on 29 September 2005
by Ken Glover and Amanda Young
and on 10 - 11 April 2006
by Ulli Lotzmann, Amanda Young, and Bill Ayrey.
Last revised 29 January 2018.
A detail from AS11-40-5964,
which is the last picture Neil took of Buzz before the end of the EVA.
Buzz's flown suit.
Click on the image for a larger version.
Left EVA Glove
- Palm view ( 0.9Mb )
- View of the left glove palm with the sewn-on checklist visible on the top surface of the gauntlet.
- ILC Label ( 1.2Mb )
- Close-up of the ILC label on the inside of the gauntlet, showing part and serial numbers and other identification information.
- Sewn-on Checklist ( 1.3Mb )
- Close-up of the Checklist.
- View of the back of the hand ( 0.9Mb )
- The flap on this side of the glove covers the adjustable palm-restraint strap.
- Fingers ( 0.9Mb )
- End-on view of the fingers.
Right EVA Glove
- ILC Label ( 1.3Mb )
- Close-up
- Palm view ( 0.9Mb )
- View of the right glove palm.
IV Helmet
- Front view from above ( 1.2Mb )
- The valsalva device is on the inside of the locking ring on the right of center; and the feedport is farther right
- Feedport ( 1.1Mb )
- Outside of the feedport with its cover installed.
- Feedport ( 1.1Mb )
- View from the inside of the helmet.
- Back view from above ( 0.9Mb )
- Showing the back of the headrest.
- Valsalva device ( 0.5Mb )
- View from the bottom.
- Valsalva device ( 0.5Mb )
- View from the bottom.
Neck Ring
- Helmet Neck Ring Fitting ( 1.0Mb )
- View from the side of the circumferential channel at the bottom on the helmet that engages the locking pins in the suit portion of the neck ring. See, also, Figure 1-15 from Vol. 1 of the Apollo 14 EMU Handbook. The blue and green areas above the ring are parts of the back of the head pad.
- Helmet Neck Ring Fitting ( 1.0Mb )
- View from the bottom, showing the inlet of the helmet oxygen vent at about the 11 o'clock position. The front of the head rest pad is covered with white fabric.
- Helmet Neck Ring Engagement Marks ( 0.8Mb )
- View from the front. The Valsalva device is inside the helmet on the astronaut's left.
- Suit Neckring ( 0.9Mb )
- Note the alignment marks and the suit-side part of the locking mechanism.
- Suit Neckring Warning Label ( 0.5Mb )
- "Use With Red Helmet Ring Only"
- Suit Neckring Engagement Pin ( 0.6Mb )
- One a set of pins - called 'locking dogs', says Bill Ayrey - that seat in a circumferential channel in the Helmet Neck Ring. The locking dogs are spring-loaded and, with a bevel on the tip, slide out of the way as the helmet in lowered into place and, once it is seated, snap out into the channel.
- Suit Neckring Locking Mechanism ( 0.6Mb )
- Close-up from above. Bill ayrey writes,"You depress the gold tab, pull that piece out and away from the neck-ring and rotate it to lock it or disengage it."
LEVA (Lunar Extravehicular Visor Assembly)
- Smithsonian Tag ( 0.9Mb )
- View of the tag, the, lower part of the gold visor, and the neck cover. Flash photo.
- ILC Label ( 1.6Mb )
- Close-up
- Gold Visor - Righthand side ( 0.5Mb )
- Right side view with the gold visor down.
- Gold Visor - Righthand side ( 0.7Mb )
- Right side view with the gold visor down. Note the Velcro closure for the neck cover. Flash photo
- Gold Visor - Front View ( 0.4Mb )
- Front view with the gold visor down. The pull-down tabs for the side visors are on the right and left at the top where the visor and thermal covering meet.
- Gold Visor - Front Close-up ( 1.0Mb )
- Amanda tells us that the small, cloud-like smudges are earth dirt on the inside surface of the LEVA. Ulli is the photographer and we see Bill Ayrey reflected on the right.
- Gold Visor - Front View ( 0.6Mb )
- Flash photo.
- Gold Visor - Top View ( 0.7Mb )
- Front view from above with the gold visor down. The pull-down tabs for the side visors are on the right and left.
- LEVA - Left Rear View ( 0.7Mb )
- Left rear view of the thermal covering, including the neck cover.
- Gold Visor - Lefthand side ( 0.7Mb )
- Left side view with the gold visor down.
- Gold Visor - Lefthand side ( 0.7Mb )
- Left side view with the gold visor down. Flash photo.
- Front View with Gold Visor raised ( 0.9Mb )
- Front view showing the visor pivots on either side.
- Bottom View ( 0.8Mb )
- Bottom view showing the inside of the neck cover. The front of the LEVA is up. The neck cover closure is at a clock position of about 10:30. The LEVA latch is at 12:00, just to the left of Amanda's hand.
- LEVA Latch ( 1.2Mb )
- The latching mechanism is shown in the open position.
- LEVA Latch ( 1.2Mb )
- The latching mechanism is shown in the open position.
- LEVA Latch ( 1.2Mb )
- The latching mechanism being closed.
- LEVA Latch ( 0.7Mb )
- The latching mechanism being closed.
- LEVA Latch ( 0.9Mb )
- The latching mechanism shown in the closed position. The lanyard makes opening the latch relatively easy while wearing suit gloves.
Snoopy Cap (Communication Carrier)
- Front Left from Above ( 1.0Mb )
- Buzz's microphones are black tubes - roughly 4-5 mm in diameter - that emerge from the blue fittings on either side.
- Back View ( 1.2Mb )
- A discussion of the Snoopy Cap can be found following 108:28:35.
Suit
- Front View ( 0.9Mb )
- View from the left front.
- Torso and Arms ( 0.9Mb )
- View from the left front.
- Name Tag and Patches ( 1.4Mb ) or ( 1.1Mb )
- The neck ring locking mechanism is at the top. The PLSS upper attachment bracket is the metal ring below the name tag.
- Torso and Connectors ( 1.4Mb )
- The various connectors are indentified in a diagram provided by Karl Dodenhoff. The pattern of Velcro strips and snaps surrounding the connector cluster provided for installation of what seems to have been called an "umbilical cover". There is considerable evidence that the Apollo 11-14 LM crew members' suits all had a similar pattern of Velcro and snaps but, as of June 2007, we have been unable to locate any indication - in photos, checklists, and EMU handbooks - of an umbilical cover having been flown. Karl Dodenhoff has provided a photograph, but doesn't remember where he found it.
- Connector Cluster ( 1.5Mb ) or ( 1.1Mb )
- Communications/Electrical Connector ( 0.9Mb )
- Close-up.
- OPS O2 Inflow Valve (right) and Diverter Valve (left) ( 0.6Mb )
- The diverter valve sends the oxygen either into the helmet behind the head rest or into the suit cavity.
- Purge Valve Connector ( 0.6Mb )
- The pressure gauge is on the right and the OPS O2 Inflow Valve and Diverter are at the top.
- Purge Valve Connector ( 0.8Mb )
- Close-up, with the pressure gauge on the right
- PLSS Water Inflow/Outflow Connector ( 0.7Mb )
- Close-up.
- PLSS O2 Inflow/Diverter and PLSS CO2 Outflow Connectors ( 1.4Mb ) or ( 0.4Mb
- Close-up. The inflow connector and diverter (blue) are at the top. The CO2 outflow (red) is on the bottom
- PLSS CO2 Outflow Connector ( 1.2Mb )
- Amanda Young is unlocking the connector.
- PLSS CO2 Outflow Connector ( 1.2Mb )
- Amanda has removed the connector plug. Note the circumferential channel about halfway down the plug. Like the channel on the helmet side of the neck ring, locking dogs engage with the channel during insertion of either the plug or corresponding PLSS hose.
- Right Arm ( 1.1Mb )
- Note the sleeve pocket just below the shoulder and the pressure gauge just above the wrist ring.
- Right Wrist Ring ( 1.0Mb )
- Close-up with the pressure gauge at the upper right.
- Right Wrist Ring ( 0.8Mb )
- Close-up with the pressure gauge at the upper right.
- Left Wrist Ring ( 1.0Mb )
- Close-up.
- Mission Patch ( 1.4Mb )
- Close-up of the patch, with the PLSS/LCG water valve (in and out) below.
- Front Zipper Cover - Closed ( 1.4Mb )
- The zipper on the AL7 suit ran from the nexk ring, down the back, thru the legs and fully closed over the pubic region. The red purge valve fitting is at the upper left in the photo (Buzz's right) and the red O2/CO2 outflow valve is at the upper right in the photo (Buzz's left).
- Front Zipper Cover - Open ( 1.7Mb )
- The zipper cover is shown here folded back to Buzz's right. The zipper is open with the closing lanyards just below the neck ring. The cover is held closed by a combination of Velcro strips and snap buttons. The ILC tag is on the inside of the cover.
- Back Zipper Cover - Open ( 1.2Mb )
- The zipper cover is shown here folded back to Buzz's left. An ILC label is sewn on the inside of the flap.
- Open Zipper Cover and Chromel-R Patch ( 1.4Mb )
- The dark patch to the right of the zipper is made of Chromel-R, a woven steel fabric include the prevent suit damage by motions of the PLSS, A similar patch joins up from the left once the zipper cover is closed.
- Zipper Detail 1 ( 0.5Mb )
- Zipper Detail 2 ( 0.9Mb )
- Zipper Detail 3 ( 0.8Mb )
- Zipper Detail 4 ( 0.9Mb )
- Zipper Detail 5 ( 1.2Mb )
- ILC Label - Close-up ( 1.6Mb )
- Right Thigh ( 1.2Mb )
- Right Knee ( 1.0Mb )
- The access flap for Urine Collection Device and Medical Injection Patch is just above the knee.
- Open Access Flap ( 1.3Mb )
- Showing the Medical Injection Patch (left) and Urine Collection Device (right). A pouch for stowage of the Personal Radiation Dosimeter (PRD is on the inside surface of the flap.
- Medical Injection Patch (left) and Urine Collection Device (right) ( 1.3Mb )
- Greater detail can be seen in the collections of photos of Ed Mitchell's flown suit.
- Urine Collection Device Cap ( 1.2Mb )
- The area under the access flap is shown with the cap removed.
- Lower Right Leg and PGA Boot ( 1.0Mb )
- The lunar boot is worn over this boot, which is an integral part of the pressure suit.
- Left Hip and Thigh ( 1.4Mb )
- The front zipper cover is on the left in the photo and a sewn-on pocket is at the bottom
- Left Thigh Pocket( 1.2Mb )
- Most Apollo thigh pockets were a strap-on variety that opened at the top. This pocket is swen-on and opens toward the inside.
- Left Knee ( 1.1Mb )
- In AS11-40-5903, Buzz has dirt smudges just below the knee. They are not distinct in this photo, undoubtedly because of all the use Buzz made of the suit after 5903 was taken.
- Lower Left Leg and PGA Boot ( 1.0Mb )
- Right Hip Tether Attachment ( 1.4Mb )
- During flight operations, the LM crew had floor tethers attached on both sides of their suits.
- Outside of the Right Thigh ( 1.1Mb )
- The Velcro and snap closures on the access flap for Urine Collection Device and Medical Injection Patch are visible.
- Outside of the lower right leg and boot ( 1.1Mb )
- Protective Patch on the Back ( 1.7Mb )
- This patch on the back of the suit was made of Chromel-R, a stainless steel mesh, and was designed to minimize wear from the PLSS bouncing around on the astronaut's back. A discussion of Chromel-R can be found at Karl Dodenhoff's My Little Space Museum.
- Zipper Cover on the Upper Back and Neck ( 1.2Mb )
- Zipper Cover from the right side ( 1.0Mb )
- Ken with Buzz's Suit ( 1.5Mb )
- Ulli with Buzz's Suit ( 1.0Mb )
- Ulli (left), Bill, and Amanda with Buzz's Suit ( 0.8Mb )
