Dressing for Altitude U.S

Anybody who has watched many movies or Dennis R. Jenkins television shows has seen them—the ubiquitous About the Author silver suits worn by pilots as they explore the unknown. They are called pressure suits, and Dressing one can trace their lineage to Wiley Post or, Dressing perhaps, a bit earlier. There are two kinds of pressure suits: partial U.S. Aviation Pressure Suits–Wiley Post to Space Shuttle Pressure Suits–Wiley Post Aviation U.S. for Altitude pressure and full pressure. David Clark, once pointed out that these were not very good U.S. Aviation Pressure Suits–Wiley Post to Space Shuttle names, but they are the ones that stuck. In a partial-pressure suit, the counter-pressure is not as complete as in a full-pressure suit, but it Dennis R. Jenkins is placed so that shifts in body fl uids are kept One of the unsigned authors of an Air Force history of within reasonable limits. On the other hand, a the Wright Air Development Center wrote an epilogue full-pressure suit, which is an anthropomorphic that conveyed the awe associated with aviation pressure pressure vessel, creates an artifi cial environment suits during the mid-1950s. “The high point in the for the pilot. development of the altitude suit was reached on June for 17, 1954 when Maj. Arthur Murray rode the rocket- One type of pressure suit is not necessarily propelled X-1A to an altitude in excess of 90,000 feet. “better” than the other, and both partial-pressure When Murray reached the peak of his record setting and full-pressure suits are still in limited use fl ight, he was atop more than 97 percent of the atmo- around the world. Both type of suits have sphere on the planet. benefi ts and limitations and, by and large, pilots Dennis R. Jenkins has spent 30 years as an engineer and dislike both, even while acknowledging their Outside the cabin of the X-1A, the rarifi ed air was only manager for various contractors on the Constellation, necessity. For the past 60 years, they have been Altitude about two percent as dense as that at sea level. For all Space Shuttle, and X-33 programs. In addition, he has an indispensible part of a small fragment of the practical purposes, he was in the airless environs of served in a staff capacity on the Columbia Accident aviation world. Investigation Board (CAIB), the President’s Commis- outer space. While he did not use the high altitude suit that he wore, he proved that a man could survive outside sion on Implementation of U.S. Space Exploration Although spacesuits, which differ from pressure the earth’s atmosphere for short periods if he took along Policy, and the Return-to-Flight Task Group, and suits in subtle but important ways, have been his own environment. The lesson for the future was pat- spent a year as the Verville Fellow at the Smithsonian’s well covered in literature, pressure suits have Legendary test pilot Capt. Iven C. Kincheloe, Jr., poses in front of a Another legendary test pilot, A. Scott Crossfi eld shows off an early ent: The high altitude suit which had evolved in the National Air and Space Museum. He has authored gone unheralded except as introductions to McDonnell F-101 Voodoo wearing an MC-3 partial-pressure suit. David Clark Company MC-2 full-pressure suit in front of the fi rst decade after World War II probably would—in several dozen books chronicling the history of various the spacesuit histories. This book is an attempt Kincheloe became the fi rst person to fl y above 100,000 feet while Wright Field altitude chamber. e sign indicates the chamber one form or another—accompany man when he fi nally aerospace projects including the Space Shuttle, X-15, to correct that and covers pressure suits from fl ying the Bell X-2 using a partial-pressure suit. was limited to 85,000 feet. Of note is the thickness of the raised – Dorothy Kincheloe Collection escaped the confi nes of his rapidly shrinking planet North American XB-70 Valkyrie, and Convair B-36. the beginning through the end of the Space entry door. Jenkins is active in promoting the preservation of – National Archives College Park Collection Dressing and ventured into the vast emptiness of space. Shuttle Program. aerospace historical archives and records. He presently lives in Cape Canaveral, FL. In the interim, the altitude suit appeared to be the in- evitable armor of man as he strove to continue his climb from the caves to the stars.” Space Shuttle astronauts National Aeronautics and Space Administration for Altitude who donned their David Clark Company S1035 full- Headquarters U.S. Aviation Pressure Suits–Wiley Post to Space Shuttle pressure suits were living proof. 300 E. Street, SW Washington, DC 20546 Dennis R. Jenkins Jacket design by Lillian Gipson NASA SP-2011-595 Jacket photograph courtesy of Lockheed Martin NASA SP-2011-595 DRESSING FOR ALTITUDE U.S. Aviation Pressure Suits—Wiley Post to Space Shuttle Copyright © 2012 by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration The opinions expressed in this volume are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the United States Government or of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. ISBN 978-0-16-090110-2 F ro as el t yb eh S epu ir tn e edn tn fo D co mu e tn .U s S G , . evo r emn tn P ir tn i O gn eciff I tn re en :t skoob t ro e . opg . vog enohP : lot l f eer ( 668 ) 215 - 0081 ; D C a er ( a 202 ) 215 - 0081 90000 aF :x ( 202 ) 215 - 4012 aM :li S t I po CCD W , ihsa gn t no D , C 20402 - 1000 ISBN 978-0-16-090110-2 9 780160 901102 DRESSING FOR ALTITUDE U.S. Aviation Pressure Suits—Wiley Post to Space Shuttle Dennis R. Jenkins National Aeronautics and Space Administration Headquarters 300 E Street SW Washington, DC 20546 NASA SP-2011-595 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Jenkins, Dennis R. Dressing for altitude : U.S. aviation pressure suits-- Wiley Post to space shuttle / Dennis R. Jenkins. p. cm. -- (NASA SP ; 2011-595) ISBN 978-0-16-090110-2 1. Pressure suits--United States. 2. Space suits--United States. I. Title. TL697.P7J46 2012 629.134'43--dc23 2012004448 Table of Contents iii NASA 116 ATAGS and the F-22 262 A/P22S-2—Production USAF 118 Rediscovering the Progressive Full-Pressure Suits v Foreword Arterial Occlusion Suit 264 Sidebar: The Evolving Pressure Suit vii Jack Bassick Biography 119 Summary Depot 279 A/P22S-3—A Navy Suit for the ix Preface 121 4: Partial-Pressure Suits Air Force xii Acknowledgments 121 Pressure Breathing 283 A/P22S-4 and A/P22S-6—Evolving xiii Dedication 125 S-1—Genesis of the Partial-Pressure the Concept Suit 293 Boyle's Law Suit 15 1: Introduction 135 S-2 and T-1—Production Partial- 295 PHAFO—The StillBorn 15 Horror Vacui Pressure Suits High-Altitude Flying Outfit 18 Structure of the Atmosphere 141 MC-1—Featherweight Suit 20 Atmospheric Pressure 146 MB-1 and MB-2—Ill-Fated Air 301 7: Special Project Suits 22 Physiological Issues of High- Defense Command Suits 301 S901 and S970—Suits for Oxcart Altitude Flight 147 MC-3 and MC-4—Dragon Ladies 316 S-100—Hybrid Suit for the and Hustlers Original U-2 25 2: Mark Ridge, Wiley Post, 161 MC-3A Specials—Manhigh, 322 S901J—Initial Suit for Senior Crown and John Kearby Excelsior, and Stargazer 334 S1010—A Suit for the Dragon Lady 25 Early Pressure Suits 165 CSU-2/P—Attempt to Improve 339 S1030—Improved Senior Crown Suits 28 Wiley Post and the Winnie Mae the MC-4 348 S1031—Improved Dragon Lady Suits i 35 International Efforts 167 C-1A and C-4—Navy Capstan Suits 349 S1031C—Common Suit 41 Aeromedical Pioneers 168 CSU-4/P and CSU-5/P—Bladders 350 S1034—Improved Common Suit 43 The U.S. Army Rediscovers the Only 362 Sidebar: The Shrinking Industrial Base Pressure Suit 173 HAPS—NASA Dryden High- 69 Summary Altitude Protective System 365 8: Space Shuttle Pressure Suits 366 ISSA and EIS—Stillborn Space Shuttle 71 3: Acceleration Protection 179 5: Navy Full-Pressure Suits Suits 72 The Physiology of Acceleration 215 Russell Colley, Again 374 S1030A—Ejection Escape System 74 Human Centrifuges 218 Mark I (EES) Suits 80 The Beginning of an Idea 220 Mark II 378 LEH—Launch Entry Helmet 83 Australian Cotton 222 Mark III 382 S1032—Launch Entry Suits (LES) Aerodynamic Anti-G Suit 227 Mark IV 399 S1035—Advanced Crew Escape Suit 86 Canadian Franks Flying Suit 231 Mark IV Suits for Strato-Lab (ACES) 89 The Americans 233 Mark V 410 Comparing Columbia to an 92 Berger Brothers 233 Project Mercury Spacesuits SR-71 Breakup 96 The Worcester Connection 105 Cutaway Suits 237 6: Air Force Full-Pressure Suits 413 Endnotes 109 Postwar Suits 241 Lines of Nonextension 110 TLSS and COMBAT EDGE 243 MC-2—A New Beginning 471 Index Dressing for Altitude: U.S. Aviation Pressure Suits—Wiley Post to Space Shuttle | Dennis R. Jenkins NaSa NASA Since its earliest days, flight has been about future is the workforce. Without these men pushing the limits of technology and, in many and women, technological advancements cases, pushing the limits of human endurance. would not be possible. Dressing for Altitude The human body can be the limiting factor in is designed to provide the history of the the design of aircraft and spacecraft.

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