1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:10,010
[ Music ]

2
00:00:10,510 --> 00:00:12,929
>> NASA, the National
Aeronautics

3
00:00:12,929 --> 00:00:16,599
and Space Administration
presents Aeronautics

4
00:00:16,599 --> 00:00:20,645
and Space Report.

5
00:00:24,983 --> 00:00:35,493
[ Music ]

6
00:00:35,994 --> 00:00:37,454
[Music] This is where
the suits worn

7
00:00:37,454 --> 00:00:41,416
by Apollo astronauts are sewn,
cemented, assembled, and tested.

8
00:00:41,958 --> 00:00:43,918
ILC industries in Dover,

9
00:00:43,918 --> 00:00:46,421
Delaware is where they
put it all together.

10
00:00:46,421 --> 00:00:54,596
Arms, legs, torso,
boots, the end product,

11
00:00:54,888 --> 00:00:58,600
an incredibly reliable custom
tailored hand assembled life

12
00:00:58,600 --> 00:01:00,977
support system, a space suit.

13
00:01:01,436 --> 00:01:03,813
The initial measurements taken

14
00:01:03,813 --> 00:01:05,690
at NASA's manned
spacecraft center

15
00:01:05,690 --> 00:01:08,860
in Houston are the first step.

16
00:01:10,278 --> 00:01:12,489
>> When an astronaut is assigned

17
00:01:12,489 --> 00:01:16,117
to a particular flight
many measurements are taken

18
00:01:16,117 --> 00:01:18,078
of his body approximately 60.

19
00:01:18,453 --> 00:01:21,790
It takes three months from the
time we have his measurements

20
00:01:21,998 --> 00:01:24,250
until we do have a
spacesuit built for him,

21
00:01:24,501 --> 00:01:29,047
and there's a formula involved
to give the man maximum mobility

22
00:01:29,631 --> 00:01:32,967
in a confinement of you might
say a pressurized balloon.

23
00:01:33,968 --> 00:01:37,555
It is in this production
room that the balloon

24
00:01:37,555 --> 00:01:40,225
like inner suit called
the bladder is assembled.

25
00:01:40,767 --> 00:01:43,019
Individual parts
move on a schedule

26
00:01:43,019 --> 00:01:44,854
that brings all the
pieces together

27
00:01:44,854 --> 00:01:46,564
into an integrated space suit.

28
00:01:47,774 --> 00:01:49,484
Meanwhile, on the second floor

29
00:01:49,484 --> 00:01:52,028
of the plant the white
outer suit consisting

30
00:01:52,028 --> 00:01:54,781
of 17 layers is cut
out and assembled.

31
00:01:55,365 --> 00:01:58,910
These include a layer of woven
Teflon to provide resistance

32
00:01:58,910 --> 00:02:03,081
to abrasions, a layer of fire
retardant fiberglass called beta

33
00:02:03,081 --> 00:02:06,459
clock, and a series of
nylon restraints to hold

34
00:02:06,459 --> 00:02:08,962
in the inner suit, like
the skin of a football.

35
00:02:09,379 --> 00:02:12,423
So close to the tolerances
that if a part is cut out

36
00:02:12,423 --> 00:02:14,884
and doesn't match
the pattern by a 32nd

37
00:02:14,884 --> 00:02:18,221
of an inch, it must be recut.

38
00:02:18,221 --> 00:02:20,682
Gloves must fit so
perfectly that they are made

39
00:02:20,682 --> 00:02:23,434
from plaster casts of
the astronauts hands.

40
00:02:23,434 --> 00:02:26,855
It takes 160 hours
to make a single pair

41
00:02:26,855 --> 00:02:29,315
of molds, and gloves.

42
00:02:29,315 --> 00:02:32,068
During qualification
testing suits are subjected

43
00:02:32,068 --> 00:02:35,280
to 10 times the design
requirements of a lunar mission.

44
00:02:35,488 --> 00:02:39,909
Another critical area
are the pressure tests.

45
00:02:40,368 --> 00:02:44,164
To be accepted a spacesuit must
have practically zero leakage

46
00:02:44,164 --> 00:02:47,625
when pressurized.

47
00:02:47,625 --> 00:02:48,835
Each of the prime crewmen

48
00:02:48,835 --> 00:02:51,212
on an Apollo mission
has three suits made,

49
00:02:51,504 --> 00:02:54,632
a training suit used till the
day of launch, a flight suit,

50
00:02:54,799 --> 00:02:56,384
and one that serves as a backup.

51
00:02:56,801 --> 00:02:59,304
The last stop is
called the fit check.

52
00:02:59,304 --> 00:03:02,765
Here Astronaut Charles M.
Duke, Lunar Module Pilot

53
00:03:02,765 --> 00:03:06,853
for the upcoming Apollo 16 moon
landing next March tries on one

54
00:03:06,853 --> 00:03:08,646
of his suits for
size and comfort.

55
00:03:09,147 --> 00:03:09,689
>> Okay, sir.

56
00:03:09,689 --> 00:03:10,440
You're at advanced pressure.

57
00:03:10,440 --> 00:03:11,191
You want to stay there?

58
00:03:11,357 --> 00:03:13,693
>> Yeah, let me work
it out a little bit.

59
00:03:13,693 --> 00:03:15,570
>> The fifth check
is done in two parts.

60
00:03:15,570 --> 00:03:17,113
First, the inner suit is worn.

61
00:03:18,489 --> 00:03:20,200
Adjustments are made and later

62
00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:24,037
in the day the astronaut dawns
the two pieces now put together

63
00:03:24,037 --> 00:03:25,788
as one totally integrated suit.

64
00:03:25,788 --> 00:03:32,670
It is here that the suit is
finally accepted or sent back

65
00:03:32,670 --> 00:03:33,755
for additional changes.

66
00:03:33,796 --> 00:03:38,218
We asked Astronaut Duke
to comment on his suits.

67
00:03:38,718 --> 00:03:39,928
>> Yeah, it's a good fit.

68
00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:44,057
Both my suits have
an excellent fit,

69
00:03:44,057 --> 00:03:45,892
so we haven't had
any trouble at all.

70
00:03:46,434 --> 00:03:48,561
This is my second time
or actually a third time.

71
00:03:48,561 --> 00:03:51,606
I have a training suit,
and then two flight suits.

72
00:03:51,606 --> 00:03:54,025
One spare, and one prime suit.

73
00:03:54,025 --> 00:03:56,611
Both flight suits just
fit exceptionally well.

74
00:03:57,695 --> 00:03:58,321
Real pleased.

75
00:04:00,531 --> 00:04:03,409
>> [Music] Like a jigsaw puzzle
the pieces forming a garment

76
00:04:03,409 --> 00:04:05,578
that the astronauts
can wear with comfort

77
00:04:05,578 --> 00:04:07,705
and confidence are
brought together.

78
00:04:07,789 --> 00:04:11,209
A garment that serves as a
small scale earth environment