{
  "id": "nasa-apollo-a7l-spacesuit",
  "title": "Apollo A7L spacesuit",
  "maker": "ILC Industries (International Latex Corporation) for NASA; contractor Hamilton Standard",
  "maker_type": "Space agency",
  "kind": "mission",
  "category": "suits",
  "page": "https://spacemushroom.com/space-products/nasa-apollo-a7l-spacesuit/",
  "website": "https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/pressure-suit-a7-l-armstrong-apollo-11-flown/nasm_A19730040000",
  "summary": "Apollo/Skylab pressure suit built by ILC (International Latex) for NASA; NASA historical softgoods records list its layers from Teflon-coated Beta cloth to a neoprene-coated nylon bladder.",
  "application": "A pressure suit worn by Apollo astronauts, including the Moon walkers, and the fire-resistant, multi-layer garment kept them alive in vacuum and a 100 percent oxygen cabin. It also served as the cabin suit for Apollo command module flights and later Skylab.",
  "story": {
    "headline": "The Apollo A7L was the layered pressure suit worn by NASA astronauts, including the Moon walkers.",
    "intro": [
      "The A7L was the pressure suit worn by Apollo astronauts, including the Moon walkers. ILC (International Latex) made it for NASA, with Hamilton Standard as contractor. The suit kept its wearer alive in vacuum and in a cabin of pure oxygen. It was also the cabin suit on Apollo command module flights, and later on Skylab.",
      "The suit is a stack of layers, and each one has a job. The outside is Beta cloth, a silica fibre coated with Teflon, which resists fire. Aluminised films reflect heat, and spacers keep them apart. A neoprene-coated nylon bladder holds the oxygen pressure, and a cotton undergarment adds comfort."
    ],
    "built": [
      {
        "title": "Outer cover layers",
        "text": "The outer cover protects against fire and wear. Beta cloth gives fire protection and does not burn in an oxygen atmosphere, and a Teflon cloth layer resists abrasion and flame. Abrasion patches, gloves and boots use Chromel R, a metallic fibre.",
        "parts": [
          "Teflon cloth layer",
          "Beta cloth layer",
          "Abrasion patches",
          "Gloves and boots (Chromel R applications)"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Heat-reflecting layers",
        "text": "Films of aluminised gridded Kapton and aluminised Mylar reflect heat. Between them sit spacers that keep the reflective surfaces from touching: nonwoven Dacron, and Beta marquisette, a Teflon-coated silica fibre fabric laminated to Kapton.",
        "parts": [
          "Reflective insulation (gridded Kapton)",
          "Spacer between reflective surfaces",
          "Reflective insulation (Mylar)",
          "Spacer layer"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Pressure layers",
        "text": "Oxygen pressure is held by a bladder of neoprene-coated nylon, an impermeable layer, together with a nylon restraint layer. Neoprene convolutes, which are flexible joints, retain the pressure.",
        "parts": [
          "Bladder",
          "Restraint layer",
          "Flexible joints (convolutes)",
          "Inner liner"
        ]
      },
      {
        "title": "Comfort and wear layers",
        "text": "The Constant Wear Garment is a cotton undergarment, there for comfort. Two more layers deal with abrasion and comfort: a knit jersey laminate and a lightweight Nomex cloth.",
        "parts": [
          "Constant Wear Garment (undergarment)",
          "Abrasion protection layer",
          "Comfort layer"
        ]
      }
    ],
    "materials": [
      {
        "name": "Beta cloth",
        "mid": "beta-cloth",
        "where": "The outer layer for fire protection. It is a silica fibre coated with Teflon."
      },
      {
        "name": "Chromel R",
        "mid": "chromel-r",
        "where": "A metallic fibre used for the abrasion patches, gloves and boots."
      },
      {
        "name": "Aluminised Mylar",
        "mid": "aluminized-mylar",
        "where": "One of the two reflective films in the thermal insulation."
      },
      {
        "name": "Nonwoven Dacron",
        "mid": "nonwoven-dacron",
        "where": "A spacer that keeps the reflective films from touching."
      },
      {
        "name": "Neoprene-coated nylon",
        "mid": "neoprene-coated-nylon",
        "where": "The pressure bladder, which is the impermeable layer, and the inner liner."
      },
      {
        "name": "Cotton",
        "mid": "cotton",
        "where": "The Constant Wear Garment, the undergarment, for comfort."
      }
    ],
    "connections": "The A7L first flew with a crew on Apollo 7 in October 1968. It was worn for the Moon landing on Apollo 11, on 20 July 1969.",
    "unknown": "The full order of the layers and their thicknesses are not published, and published layer counts differ. The weave of the Beta cloth and the grades of nylon and neoprene are not given. Materials for the helmet, visor, boots and life-support backpack are not known, and the gloves only partly.",
    "facts": [
      {
        "label": "First crewed flight",
        "value": "Apollo 7, October 1968"
      },
      {
        "label": "Moon landing use",
        "value": "Apollo 11, 20 July 1969"
      },
      {
        "label": "Suit mass, Apollo 13 (Swigert)",
        "value": "about 58 lb"
      },
      {
        "label": "Complete spacewalk outfit, Apollo 14",
        "value": "about 82 kg (180 lb), with life support and other components"
      }
    ]
  },
  "specifications": [
    {
      "label": "Maker",
      "value": "ILC Industries Inc. (NASM catalogue); contractor Hamilton Standard",
      "source_url": "https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/pressure-suit-a7-l-armstrong-apollo-11-flown/nasm_A19730040000",
      "quote": "ILC Industries Inc."
    },
    {
      "label": "Suit mass (Apollo 13 Swigert suit)",
      "value": "about 58 lb",
      "source_url": "https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/pressure-suit-a7-l-swigert-apollo-13-flown/nasm_A19731288000",
      "quote": "The suit weighed approximately 58 lbs"
    },
    {
      "label": "Complete Apollo 14 EVA assembly mass on Earth",
      "value": "about 82 kg (180 lb), with life support and other components",
      "source_url": "https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/pressure-suit-a7-l-shepard-apollo-14-flown/nasm_A19720587000",
      "quote": "the suit weighed approximately 82 kilograms (180 pounds) here on Earth"
    },
    {
      "label": "Layer count (Apollo 8 era suit record)",
      "value": "approximately 26 layers of materials (Lovell suit record)",
      "source_url": "https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/pressure-suit-apollo-a7-l-lovell/nasm_A19850646000",
      "quote": "approximately 26 layers of materials"
    },
    {
      "label": "Size (Apollo 14 suit on display)",
      "value": "167.64 x 81.3 x 27.9 cm",
      "source_url": "https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/pressure-suit-a7-l-shepard-apollo-14-flown/nasm_A19720587000",
      "quote": "Overall: 5ft 6in. x 2ft 8in. x 11in. (167.64 x 81.3 x 27.9cm)"
    },
    {
      "label": "First crewed flight (A7L)",
      "value": "Apollo 7, October 1968",
      "source_url": "https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/pressure-suit-a7-l-eisele-apollo-7-flown/nasm_A19721013000",
      "quote": "Apollo 7 mission in October, 1968"
    },
    {
      "label": "Moon landing use",
      "value": "Apollo 11, 20 July 1969",
      "source_url": "https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/pressure-suit-a7-l-armstrong-apollo-11-flown/nasm_A19730040000",
      "quote": "July 20, 1969"
    }
  ],
  "features": [
    {
      "text": "Beta cloth outer layer gives fire protection that does not burn in an oxygen atmosphere",
      "source_url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20230014577/downloads/ATA%202023%20Presentation.pdf",
      "quote": "Beta cloth (Teflon-coated silica fiber): Fire protection"
    },
    {
      "text": "Aluminised Kapton and Mylar films reflect heat; nonwoven Dacron and Beta/Kapton spacers keep them from touching",
      "source_url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20230014577/downloads/ATA%202023%20Presentation.pdf",
      "quote": "Spacer between reflective surfaces"
    },
    {
      "text": "Rubber/neoprene pressure bladder with a restraint layer holds oxygen pressure",
      "source_url": "https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/pressure-suit-a7-l-swigert-apollo-13-flown/nasm_A19731288000",
      "quote": "rubber/neoprene pressure bladder with integrated restraint layer"
    },
    {
      "text": "Chromel R metallic fibre protects gloves, boots and abrasion patches",
      "source_url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20230014577/downloads/ATA%202023%20Presentation.pdf",
      "quote": "Apollo space suit gloves and boots"
    }
  ],
  "parts": [
    {
      "assembly": "Outer cover layers",
      "parts": [
        {
          "part": "Teflon cloth layer",
          "material": "Teflon cloth",
          "form": "woven fabric",
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "Teflon Cloth: Abrasion/flame resistance",
          "source_url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20230014577/downloads/ATA%202023%20Presentation.pdf",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": "teflon-fabric"
        },
        {
          "part": "Beta cloth layer",
          "material": "Beta cloth (Teflon-coated silica fiber)",
          "form": "woven fabric",
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "Beta cloth (Teflon-coated silica fiber): Fire protection",
          "source_url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20230014577/downloads/ATA%202023%20Presentation.pdf",
          "profile": "beta-cloth",
          "mid": "beta-cloth"
        },
        {
          "part": "Abrasion patches",
          "material": "Chromel R (high-performance metallic fiber)",
          "form": "fabric patch",
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "Apollo space suit abrasion patch",
          "source_url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20230014577/downloads/ATA%202023%20Presentation.pdf",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": "chromel-r"
        },
        {
          "part": "Gloves and boots (Chromel R applications)",
          "material": "Chromel R (high-performance metallic fiber)",
          "form": "fabric",
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "Apollo space suit gloves and boots",
          "source_url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20230014577/downloads/ATA%202023%20Presentation.pdf",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": "chromel-r"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "assembly": "Thermal insulation layers",
      "parts": [
        {
          "part": "Reflective insulation (gridded Kapton)",
          "material": "Aluminized gridded Kapton",
          "form": "film",
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "Aluminized gridded Kapton: Reflective insulation",
          "source_url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20230014577/downloads/ATA%202023%20Presentation.pdf",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": "aluminized-kapton-gridded"
        },
        {
          "part": "Spacer between reflective surfaces",
          "material": "Beta marquisette laminated to Kapton",
          "form": "laminate",
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "Beta marquisette (Teflon-coated silica fiber, laminated to Kapton): Spacer between reflective surfaces",
          "source_url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20230014577/downloads/ATA%202023%20Presentation.pdf",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": "beta-marquisette-kapton-laminate"
        },
        {
          "part": "Reflective insulation (Mylar)",
          "material": "Aluminized Mylar",
          "form": "film",
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "Aluminized Mylar: Reflective insulation",
          "source_url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20230014577/downloads/ATA%202023%20Presentation.pdf",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": "aluminized-mylar"
        },
        {
          "part": "Spacer layer",
          "material": "Nonwoven Dacron",
          "form": "nonwoven fabric",
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "Nonwoven Dacron: Spacer",
          "source_url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20230014577/downloads/ATA%202023%20Presentation.pdf",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": "nonwoven-dacron"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "assembly": "Pressure garment layers",
      "parts": [
        {
          "part": "Inner liner",
          "material": "Neoprene-coated nylon",
          "form": "coated fabric",
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "Neoprene-coated nylon: Inner liner",
          "source_url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20230014577/downloads/ATA%202023%20Presentation.pdf",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": "neoprene-coated-nylon"
        },
        {
          "part": "Restraint layer",
          "material": "Nylon",
          "form": "fabric",
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "Nylon: Restraint layer for pressurized bladder",
          "source_url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20230014577/downloads/ATA%202023%20Presentation.pdf",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": "nylon"
        },
        {
          "part": "Bladder",
          "material": "Neoprene-coated nylon",
          "form": "coated fabric",
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "Neoprene-coated nylon: Bladder material serving as an impermeable layer",
          "source_url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20230014577/downloads/ATA%202023%20Presentation.pdf",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": "neoprene-coated-nylon"
        },
        {
          "part": "Flexible joints (convolutes)",
          "material": "Neoprene",
          "form": "molded convolute",
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "Neoprene convolute: Pressure-retaining flexible joints",
          "source_url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20230014577/downloads/ATA%202023%20Presentation.pdf",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": "neoprene"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "assembly": "Inner comfort and abrasion layers",
      "parts": [
        {
          "part": "Abrasion protection layer",
          "material": "Knit jersey laminate",
          "form": "laminate",
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "Knit jersey laminate: Abrasion protection",
          "source_url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20230014577/downloads/ATA%202023%20Presentation.pdf",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": "knit-jersey-laminate"
        },
        {
          "part": "Comfort layer",
          "material": "Lightweight Nomex cloth",
          "form": "fabric",
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "Lightweight Nomex cloth: Comfort",
          "source_url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20230014577/downloads/ATA%202023%20Presentation.pdf",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": "nomex"
        },
        {
          "part": "Constant Wear Garment (undergarment)",
          "material": "Cotton",
          "form": "garment",
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": null,
          "quote": "Cotton: Comfort",
          "source_url": "https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/20230014577/downloads/ATA%202023%20Presentation.pdf",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": "cotton"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "assembly": "Hardware and closures (NASM catalogue records)",
      "parts": [
        {
          "part": "Connectors, neck ring and wrist locking rings",
          "material": "Aluminium (alloy not stated)",
          "form": "machined rings and connectors",
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": "NASM A19730040000",
          "quote": "aluminum",
          "source_url": "https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/pressure-suit-a7-l-armstrong-apollo-11-flown/nasm_A19730040000",
          "profile": "aluminium",
          "mid": "aluminium"
        },
        {
          "part": "Zipper",
          "material": "Brass, neoprene",
          "form": "closure",
          "finish": null,
          "standard": null,
          "hardware_ref": "NASM A19730040000",
          "quote": "Zipper: Brass, neoprene",
          "source_url": "https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/pressure-suit-a7-l-armstrong-apollo-11-flown/nasm_A19730040000",
          "profile": null,
          "mid": "brass-and-neoprene-zipper"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "materials": [
    {
      "id": "teflon-fabric",
      "name": "Teflon cloth",
      "material_page": null
    },
    {
      "id": "beta-cloth",
      "name": "Beta cloth (Teflon-coated silica fiber)",
      "material_page": "https://spacemushroom.com/profiles/beta-cloth/"
    },
    {
      "id": "chromel-r",
      "name": "Chromel R (high-performance metallic fiber)",
      "material_page": null
    },
    {
      "id": "aluminized-kapton-gridded",
      "name": "Aluminized gridded Kapton",
      "material_page": null
    },
    {
      "id": "beta-marquisette-kapton-laminate",
      "name": "Beta marquisette laminated to Kapton",
      "material_page": null
    },
    {
      "id": "aluminized-mylar",
      "name": "Aluminized Mylar",
      "material_page": null
    },
    {
      "id": "nonwoven-dacron",
      "name": "Nonwoven Dacron",
      "material_page": null
    },
    {
      "id": "neoprene-coated-nylon",
      "name": "Neoprene-coated nylon",
      "material_page": null
    },
    {
      "id": "nylon",
      "name": "Nylon",
      "material_page": null
    },
    {
      "id": "neoprene",
      "name": "Neoprene",
      "material_page": null
    },
    {
      "id": "knit-jersey-laminate",
      "name": "Knit jersey laminate",
      "material_page": null
    },
    {
      "id": "nomex",
      "name": "Lightweight Nomex cloth",
      "material_page": null
    },
    {
      "id": "cotton",
      "name": "Cotton",
      "material_page": null
    },
    {
      "id": "aluminium",
      "name": "Aluminium (alloy not stated)",
      "material_page": "https://spacemushroom.com/profiles/aluminium/"
    },
    {
      "id": "brass-and-neoprene-zipper",
      "name": "Brass, neoprene",
      "material_page": null
    }
  ],
  "standards": [],
  "relations": [],
  "not_published": "Layer order, thickness, and helmet/PLSS materials not sourced.",
  "depth": "partial",
  "photos": [
    {
      "file": "products/context/nasa-apollo-a7l-spacesuit-1.jpg",
      "alt": "Alan Shepard's Apollo 14 A7L spacesuit with helmet on display in a museum case, dust-stained with NASA patch, flag, and red",
      "long": "Alan Shepard's Apollo 14 A7L spacesuit with helmet on display in a museum case, dust-stained with NASA patch, flag, and red and blue connectors",
      "kind": "product",
      "credit": "Daderot (CC0, via Wikimedia Commons)",
      "license": "CC0",
      "page_url": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Apollo_A7L_spacesuit,_worn_by_Alan_Shepard,_Apollo_14_mission,_ILC_Industries_-_Kennedy_Space_Center_-_Cape_Canaveral,_Florida_-_DSC02887.jpg"
    },
    {
      "file": "products/context/nasa-apollo-a7l-spacesuit-2.jpg",
      "alt": "Jim Lovell's A7L spacesuit (Apollo 13) in a museum display case with helmet beside it",
      "long": "Jim Lovell's A7L spacesuit (Apollo 13) in a museum display case with helmet beside it",
      "kind": "product",
      "credit": "Balon Greyjoy (CC0, via Wikimedia Commons)",
      "license": "CC0",
      "page_url": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:20180502_Lovell_spacesuit_Cosmosphere.jpg"
    },
    {
      "file": "products/context/nasa-apollo-a7l-spacesuit-3.jpg",
      "alt": "Studio portrait of a person wearing an A7L-type pressure garment assembly without the outer layer, blue suit with bellows",
      "long": "Studio portrait of a person wearing an A7L-type pressure garment assembly without the outer layer, blue suit with bellows arms and gloves (NASA S71-24537)",
      "kind": "product",
      "credit": "NASA (public domain, via Wikimedia Commons)",
      "license": "Public domain",
      "page_url": "https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:S71-24537-A7L_without_outerlayer.jpg"
    }
  ],
  "context": {
    "size": [],
    "mass": [],
    "orbit": [
      "Deep space"
    ]
  },
  "licence": "Product data CC BY 4.0, cite Space Mushroom. Photos keep their own licences, given per photo.",
  "mcp": "https://spacemushroom.com/mcp"
}