APOLLO PROTOTYPE SPD-117 SPACESUIT, INTERNATIONAL LATEX CORPORATION, CA 1962

SPD-117 APOLLO SPACESUIT
An SPD-117 Prototype Apollo Spacesuit,
made by the International Latex Corporation, ca 1962

Two piece outer cover layer for an SPD-117 spacesuit, manufactured by the International Latex Corporation, approx. 54 inches tall, top half and bottom halves joined by zipper completely encircling waist area, metal ring at neck for helmet attachment. Green heavy-duty nylon with ruched latex at shoulders, elbows, hips and knees. Latex dry and brittle, suit stiff and worn.

VERY RARE EARLY PROTOTYPE APOLLO SPACESUIT, THE ARCHETYPE FOR ALL SUBSEQUENT APOLLO SUITS. The SPD-117, sometimes referred to as "The Apollo State-of-the-Art Suit" was the very first spacesuit by the International Latex Corporation (ILC) to be assessed by NASA, and was the archetype for all subsequent Apollo spacesuits (though ILC had originally submitted it to NASA for the Mercury suit contract). While ILC did not win the contract for the Mercury Suits (B.F. Goodrich did), they were awarded a study contract to develop suits towards the lunar program, including the SPD-134 and the AX-1L. The SPD-117 is perhaps most recognized as being the "Major Matt Mason Suit" (from the toy of the same name).

IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THERE ARE NO EXAMPLES OF THE SPD-117 IN THE SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM COLLECTION.

REFERENCE
For details on the development of the Apollo and other spacesuits, see Young, Spacesuits: The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Collection, and Monchaux, Spacesuit: Fashioning Apollo.

Condition Report:
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