In 1966, Leonard N. "Lenny" Masiello was an employee of Hamilton Standard who was preparing to enter U.S. Air Force pilot training. In the early part of that year, Masiello was approached by Dr. Vance Marchbanks, Jr. and was asked to assist in testing the Apollo space suit. Masiello participated in numerous tests of the suit, aided by his excellent physical condition, which contributed to the final design. One round of testing, held at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, Texas, was attended by active and former astronauts including John Herschel Glenn, Jr.; John Leonard Swigert, Jr.; Leroy Gordon Cooper, Jr.; and Virgil Ivan "Gus" Grissom. Masiello left Hamilton Standard in late 1966 to enter pilot training, after which he was a pilot in the U.S. Air Force for 22 years before retiring as a lieutenant colonel.

NASM.2016.0007

Arranged and described by Jessamyn Lloyd in 2015, updated in 2019, and encoded in 2020.

Masiello, Leonard N.

1966, 2007

Leonard N. "Lenny" Masiello, Gift, 2015 and materials added in 2019, NASM.2016.0007.

0.05 Cubic feet (1 folder)

In 1966, Leonard N. "Lenny" Masiello was an employee of Hamilton Standard who was asked to assist in testing the Apollo space suit. This collection consists of four photographs of Leonard N. Masiello testing a prototype version of the Apollo space suit for Hamilton Standard as well as a news clipping about space suits and three publications by the Hamilton Standard Space Hardware Heritage Team.

No restrictions on access.

Collection descriptions

Archival materials

Photographs

Newspaper clippings

Technical reports

This collection is arranged by type of material.

This collection consists of four photographs of Leonard N. Masiello testing a prototype version of the Apollo space suit for Hamilton Standard. The photographs are all black and white and measure 3.5 x 4.25 inches with the exception of one larger print that measures approximately 10.5 x 7.25 inches. Two of the photographs were taken at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, Texas; one was taken at Hamilton Standard in Windsor Locks, Connecticut; and one photo was taken at ILC Industries, Inc. in Dover, Delaware. The collection also contains a news clipping about space suits and three publications by the Hamilton Standard Space Hardware Heritage Team, all from 2007. The first is entitled, "Hamilton Sunstrand Space Suit Experience Supplement" (Report No. 4, Revision D); the second is entitled, "Hamilton Sunstrand's Human Space Systems" (Report No. 1, Revision A); and the third is entitled "Human Space Systems, Hamilton Sunstrand" (Report No. 6, Revision B).

Photographs

Newspaper clippings

Technical reports

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Apollo Space Suit Testing Photographs [Masiello], NASM.2016.0007, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.

National Air and Space Museum Archives