Al Shepard's Flown Apollo 14 Suit
Photographed at the National Air and Space Museum's Garber Facility
on 10 - 11 April 2006
by Ulli Lotzmann, Amanda Young, and Bill Ayrey.
Last revised 24 March 2008.
NASA photo KSC-71PC-73 shows Al during suit-up for the Apollo 14
launch.
(Click on the image for a larger version.)
Al's flown suit.
(Click on the image for a larger version.)
Detailed descriptions of the Apollo 14 suits can be found in Volume 1 of the Apollo 14 EMU
Handbook.
- Flown Suit ( 0.6Mb )
- Alternate view from the feet toward the neck.
- Right Shoulder and Upper Arm: Pocket and CDR Stripe
( 1.1Mb )
- The pocket flap opens toward the suit centerline.
- Right Suit Boot and Lower Leg from the Right
( 1.1Mb )
- The boot is an integral part of the Pressure Garment Assembly
(PGA).
Note the sewn-on loops for attachment of strap-on pockets.
- Right Calf, Knee, and Leg Stripe from the Right
( 1.1Mb )
- Note that this leg strip is more abraded than the arm stripe.
- UTC and Biomedical Access Flap ( 1.1Mb )
- This flap covers the Urine Transfer Connector (UTC), the
dosimeter
pocket, and the Medical Injection Patch. See Figures I-4 and I-5 in Volume 1 of the Apollo 14 EMU
Handbook.
- Right Hip and Adjacent Torso Areas ( 1.2Mb )
- The right forearm and wrist ring are at the bottom. The
attachment point for the waist tether is on the right side of the torso
just above the hip. the top of the UTC/Biomedical flap is on the right.
The crotch end of the cover flap for the suit zipper is at the upper
right, with the lower PLSS attachment fixture at top center. The pouch
containing the torso adjustment strap is at the top left. Below the
pouch are the red connector for the Oxygen Purge Valve and the blue
inflow connector for the Oxygen Purge System (OPS). See, also, a diagram
provided by Karl Dodenhoff.
- Connector Cluster on the Torso ( 1.3Mb )
- View from the right. On the centerline, the lower PLSS attachment
bracket is on the right, the upper bracket is on the right, and the
adjustment-strap pouch is between them. the pattern of vlecro strips
and snaps that surround the connector cluster was intended for the
installation of a "dust bib". No dust bibs were ever used on the Moon.
The various connectors are identified in a diagram
provided by Karl Dodenhoff.
- Close-up of the OPS Connectors and Diverter ( 1.4Mb )
- The Purge Valve connector (red) is on the right; the OPS O2
inflow connector (blue) is on the left; and the associated diverter
valve is below the inflow connector
- Close-up of the Electrical/Communications Connector ( 1.3Mb )
- The various connectors are identified in a diagram
provided by Karl Dodenhoff.
- Close-up of the Upper PLSS Attachment Bracket ( 1.5Mb
- The Torso Adjustment strap hangs down from the bracket into a
pouch. The Electrical/Communications connector is on the left and the
PLSS H2O Inflow/Outflow Connector is on the right.
- Close-up of the PLSS H2O Connector ( 1.4Mb )
- In this view, the direction to the neckring is down.
- PLSS O2 Inflow Connector (Blue), Diverter Valve, PLSS O2/CO2
Outflow (red) ( 1.4Mb
)
- The various connectors are identified in a diagram
provided by Karl Dodenhoff.
- Right Forearm, CDR Stripe, Pressure Gauge, Wrist Ring ( 1.1Mb )
- The waist tether attachment is beyond the pressure gauge.
- View into the Neckring from Above ( 1.1Mb )
- See, also, a labeled version.
- Close-up of the Neckring Air Vents ( 1.2Mb )
- The diverter valve associated with the PLSS O2 Inflow Connector
could be used to direct the oxygen into the suit body or into these
neckring vents.
- Close-up of the Pressure Garment Zipper taken through the
Neckring ( 1.3Mb
)
- The zipper is open. To close it, the red cord and a correspoding blue cord on the back of the suit were pulled down the
back and up through the crotch. The red cord closes the inner Pressure Garment Zipper and the blue cord closes the outer zipper.
- Close-up of the Comm Cable and Plug taken thru the Neckring ( 1.2Mb )
- When connected to the astronaut's "Snoopy Helmet" (aka the Comm
Carrier), communications were possible via headphones and microphones
built into the Comm Carrier. NASA photo 70-H-1115 shows Al wearing his Snoopy
helmet during suit-up for the launch. The comm cable is attached
to the helmet cable just in front of his throat.
- Serial Number on the Comm Plug ( 1.0Mb )
- ASSY 9263-2, SN-218, 769-117
- Close-up of the bottom of the Neckring Air Vent ( 1.2Mb
)
- The upper portion of Figure I-10
from the Apolloo 14 EMU Handbook shows the fitting that is attached to
the bottom of the neckring air vent.
- Close-up of the Apollo 14 Mission Patch ( 1.4Mb
)
- Connectors to the Astronaut's Left of the Suit Centerline
( 1.3Mb
)
- PLSS H2O (top); PLSS O2 Inflow and Diverter (center); PLSS O2/CO2
Outflow (bottom). The Torso adjustment strap and its pouch are on the
conterline.
- ITMG Zipper Close-up ( 1.3Mb
)
- This short zipper only extends from just below the Lower PLSS
Attachment Bracket,
down and through the legs and then up to the lower back. It
secures the Integrated Thermal and Micrometeoroid Garment (ITMG) in the
crotch. It is closed after the pressure-garment zipper has been
pulled down the back and secured at the front of the suit.
- Zipper Cover Flap, Open ( 1.3Mb
)
- Once both the Pressure Garment Zipper and the ITMG Zipper have
been secured, the cover flap is secured with Velcro and snaps.
- Zipper Cover Flap Closed ( 1.3Mb
)
- The Velcro strip across the middle of the flap and the snaps at
either end of the strip are part of the pattern designed to secure the
'dust bib'.
- Left Forearm, viewed from the left ( 0.9Mb
)
- A sleeve pocket on the upper arm is at the right.
- Left Arm, View from above the shoulder ( 1.1Mb
)
- Close-up of the closed sleeve pocket. Note that there is very
little abrasion on the flag patch on the shoulder.
- Left Arm Sleeve Pocket, Closed ( 1.2Mb
)
- This is called the Penlight and Pencil Pocket. Neither pencils,
pens, nor penlights were used outside the Lunar Module but were used in
the cabin and may have been stowed in this pocket.
- Penlight and Pencil Pocket, Flap Open ( 1.2Mb
)
- The narrow sleeve was probably intended for penlight stowage.
- Left Forearm Close-up ( 1.0Mb
)
- Note the fabric abrasion, just above the wristring. At the time
of this writing, we have not seen documentation of post-mission
inspections, so it is not known if the abrasion occured on the Moon.
- View into the Left Wristring ( 0.9Mb
)
- Left-side Connectors ( 1.2Mb
)
- PLSS H2O Inflow/Outflow (right), PLSS O2 Inflow and Diverter
(center), PLSS O2/CO2 outflow (left, red).
- Left Thigh Pocket, Flap Closed ( 1.0Mb
)
- View from the left.
- Left Knee ( 1.1Mb
)
- View from the left. Heaviliy soiled.
- Left Suit Boot ( 1.0Mb
)
- This boot is an integral part of the Pressure Garment Assembly
(PGA).
- Left Boot Sole ( 1.0Mb
)
- The Velcro patches mated with complementary patches on the LM
cabin floor to help the astronauts maintain position in free flight.
- Right Boot Sole ( 1.0Mb
)
-
- Front Zipper Cover, Flap Open ( 1.2Mb
)
- View from below.
- Left Thigh Pocket, Flap Open ( 1.1Mb
)
- Any indication in the checklist that anything was put in the
pocket before an EVA? Where did Shepard stow the golf club head?
- Left Thigh Pocket, Flap Open ( 1.0Mb
)
- Deeper view.
- Left Thigh Pocket, Flap Open ( 1.1Mb
)
- View from above. The outside of the pocket is remarkably
clean. Any lunar surface views of it?
- Left Thigh Pocket, Flap Closed ( 1.2Mb
)
- View from above.
- UTC and Biomedical Access Flap, Closed ( 1.3Mb
)
- Upper PLSS Attachment Bracket, Close-up ( 1.2Mb
)
- ASY A7L-101061-01, S/N 110
- Velcro Strip and Snap, Close-up ( 1.2Mb
)
- Velcro Strip and Snap, Close-up ( 1.4Mb
)
- Diverter Valve at the upper left and Purge Valve (?) Connector at
the upper right.
- Right Arm Wristring ( 1.0Mb
)
- End view into the interior
- Pressure Gauge, Close-up ( 1.2Mb
)
- Abraided corners on fabric covering?
- CDR Stripe on the Right Arm, Close-up ( 1.3Mb
)
- Showing abrasion. Color wear, primarily.
- CDR Stripe, Right Arm ( 1.1Mb
)
- Tighter close-up
- CDR Stripe, Right Arm ( 1.1Mb
)
- Close-up of stitching along lower edge
- Waist Tether Attachment Bracket ( 1.1Mb
)
- Close-up
- Suit Fabric ( 1.1Mb
)
- Close-up
- CDR Stripe, Right Leg ( 1.4Mb
)
- Close-up. The lower leg and boot are out-of-frame at the
bottom.the amount of imbedded dust and abrasion is much greater on this
leg stripe than on the arm stripe, as would be expected. A detail shows what may be some fiber
damage.
- Fabric Band Below the CDR Stripe on the Right Leg ( 1.1Mb
)
- Close-up.
- Fabric Band Below the CDR Stripe on the Right Leg ( 1.1Mb
)
- View from below.
- CDR Leg Stripe ( 1.3Mb
)
- Close-up. Right Leg?
- UTC and Biomedical Flap, Open ( 1.2Mb
)
- The Urine Transfer Connector(UTC) is top center, with the
Boimedical injection patch below it. A pouch for stowage of a Personal
Radiation Dosimeter is on the right, on the inside surface of the flap.
During Apollo 14, this flap was opened only in the cabin. The
astronauts would not have been wearing gloves when they did so, which
is why it has remained so clean.
- UTC (left) and Injection Patch (right) ( 1.3Mb
)
- Close-up.
- Left Wristring, rearward-facing sleeve surface ( 0.9Mb
)
- View from above. Note the amount of fabric damage.
- Left forearm and wristring ( 1.0Mb
)
- View of the end from the outside
- Left Forearm and Pressure Relief Valve Cover ( 1.1Mb
)
- The Pressure Relief Valve is under the fabric cover and was over
the back of the astronaut's wrist.
- Left CDR Leg Stripe ( 1.3Mb
)
- Close-up, with the thigh pocket at the top.
- Right CDR Leg Stripe ( 1.3Mb )
- Close-up
- Leftside Oxygen Connectors ( 1.3Mb
)
- PLSS Oxygen Inflow (blue) and Diverter Valve; PLSS Oxygen and
Carbon dioxide Outflow (red)
- PLSS O2 and CO2 Outflow ( 1.3Mb
)
- Close-up
- PLSS O2 and CO2 Outflow ( 0.6Mb
)
- Tight Close-up
- Left Leg Thigh Pocket ( 1.0Mb
)
- Flap closed
- Fabric Damage, UTC and Biomedical Access Flap ( 1.4Mb
)
- Close-up of the lower edge on the inside of the right leg.
- Fabric Damage ( 1.3Mb
)
- Close-up; UTC/Biomed Flap
- Right Wrist Ring ( 1.0Mb
)
- Close-up; Pressure Gauge at the top left.
- Suit back ( 1.0Mb
)
- View from the feel toward the neck.
- Right Boot Sole ( 0.9Mb
)
- Close-up
- Left Boot Sole ( 0.9Mb
)
- Close-up
- Left Boot Heel and Lower Leg ( 1.0Mb
)
- The black marks on the fabric may not be lunar.
- Lower Leg and CDR Stripe ( 1.2Mb
)
- The fabric loop sewn on the outside of the leg could be used to
attach a strap-on pocket.
- Left Thigh ( 1.2Mb
)
- The marks on the fabric on the left are probably not lunar.
- Upper Left Leg ( 1.0Mb
)
- The waist tether attachment is on the left and the zipper cover
is at the top.
- Left Waist Tether Attachment ( 1.1Mb
)
- Upper Left Side, Upper Left Arm and Shoulder ( 1.2Mb
)
- The dark, Chromel-R patch on the back protects the suit from
abrasion by the PLSS, which bounces around when the astronaut walks or
runs.
- Left Shoulder, Chromel-R Patch ( 1.3Mb
)
- Left Arm ( 1.0Mb
)
- Perhaps not surprisingly, the lower arm appears to be dirtier
than the upper arm.
- Neck and Zipper Cover ( 1.2Mb
)
- In this view down the back from the neck, the zipper cover opens
to the right.
- Right Shoulder ( 1.2Mb
)
- This view down the back from the shoulder shows the Velcro
closure of the zipper cover.
- ILC Label inside the open Zipper Cover ( 1.6Mb
)
- Close-up
- Zipper Cover and Zipper, Open ( 1.2Mb
)
- The Pressure Garment Zipper is closed by pulling twin lanyards down the back, through the legs, and up the front to the top of the public region. The zipper assembly includes both an inner and outer zipper. The blue lanyard visible here closes the outer zipper. A red lanyard, mostly hidden beneath the blue lanyard in this view, closes the inner zipper.
- Open Zipper on the lower back ( 1.1Mb
)
- Note the right waist-tether attachment at the lower left.
- Open Zipper in the Buttocks Region ( 1.1Mb
)
- Note a short zipper that secures the Integrated Thermal and Micrometeoroid Garment in the crotch. Once the dual Pressure Garment zipper has been closed and secured, the ITMG zipper is closed from the front and is secured at the back. See, also, a labeled version.
- Zipper Assembly in the Crotch Region ( 1.3Mb
)
- Close-up from the back showing the ITMG zipper and the dual PG zipper.
- Suit Interior from the back ( 1.2Mb
)
- View thru the open zipper.
- Suit Interior fro the back ( 1.1Mb
)
- Alternate view.
- Helmet Comm Cable and Plug, view thru the back of the suit ( 1.1Mb
)
- The This cable runs from the back of the Electrical/Communications Connector on the suit front and, through the opening on the left and then up through the neckrign for connection with the astronaut's Comm Carrier (aka "Snoopy Cap".
- Right Leg CDR Stripe ( 1.2Mb
)
- View from the back. The lower leg and boot are out-of-view to the left.
- Right Lower Leg and Boot Heel ( 1.0Mb
)
- View from the back.
- Right Arm, CDR Stripe, Wrist Ring ( 1.0Mb
)
- View from the back.
- Right Arm CDR Stripe ( 1.1Mb
)
- Close-up showing abrasion and fabric damage.
- Lower Left Leg and Boot Heel ( 1.0Mb
)
- View from the Back.
- Left Leg CDR Stripe ( 1.2Mb
)
- The fabric stains on the left may not be lunar.
- (Left?) Wasit Tether Attachment and Fabric Damage ( 1.2Mb
)
- Close-up.
- Chromel-R Patch on the Suit Back ( 1.4Mb
)
- View with the Zipper Cover Closed. This metal fabric protected the suit back from abrasion that would have resulted from PLSS movement.
- Ulli with Separd's Suit ( 1.1Mb
)
- Right Side of the Suit Front ( 1.1Mb
)
- View from the Right Thigh toward the Neck.
