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Spacesuits

GEMINI SPACESUIT

The Gemini pressure suit was designed for the same tasks as the Mercury suit. In addition, it had to support long duration flights of up to two weeks and Extra Vehicular Activity (EVA) or "Space Walks". It was obviously an improved design affording more mobility under pressure as well as improved fittings for transfer of hoses when pressurized. The blue fittings denote cool oxygen entering the suit, and the red fittings denote warm gases, oxygen, CO2 and water vapor, leaving the suit. The Gemini pressure suit was designed and fabricated by the David Clark Company in Maryland, better known at the time for manufacturing corsets and brassieres.

MERCURY SPACESUIT

The Mercury Spacesuit was a "silvered" version of the U.S. Navy full pressure suit. The Mercury pressure suit was fabricated at the B.F. Goodrich (automobile tire manufacturer) Research Facilities in Akron, Ohio. It was designed to keep the astronaut at 3.5 p.s.i. pure oxygen if the spacecraft lost cabin pressure. In normal flight, with the face plate open to cabin air, pure oxygen at 5 p.s.i. would flow through the suit for cooling the astronaut. It was not designed for use in a "space walk".

WILLIAM A. ANDERS

This space suit was worn in training by San Diego native, William A. Anders. "Bill" Anders was a crew member with Frank Borman and Jim Lovell in Apollo 8.

Bill Anders was born in Hong Kong, the son of Commander and Mrs. Arthur Anders, USN. He considers himself a San Diegan, having attended La Mesa Elementary School and Grossmont High School. After graduation from the Naval Academy he became an Air Force pilot and earned an advanced degree in Nuclear Engineering before entering the space program.

On leaving NASA service, Bill Anders was appointed to a number of prestigious and critical national positions, and in 1976 was appointed Ambassador to Norway. In January, 1991, he was appointed Chairman of the General Dynamics Corporation. He holds the rank of Major General in the Air Force Reserves.

APOLLO 8

Apollo 8 lifted into orbit from Cape Kennedy on December 21st, 1968, the first manned flight of the enormous Saturn V rocket. The crew, San Diegan Bill Anders, with Frank Borman and Jim Lovell, were the first men to leave earth's orbit, enter a lunar orbit and return to earth.

This essential milestone in space history validated the technology to go to the moon and return, a goal set for the nation by President John F. Kennedy on May 25th, 1961.

Apollo 8's success permitted the later lunar landings and facilitated the deeper exploration of space yet to come.

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