Astronaut Fred Haise, a veteran of the Apollo 13 mission, wore this flight suit while commanding five of the eight piloted Approach and Landing Test flights of Space Shuttle Enterprise in 1977. On three of those flights, Haise and fellow astronaut Gordon Fullerton guided Enterprise upon its release from a modified Boeing 747 carrier aircraft to landings at Edwards Air Force Base, California. Their longest descent lasted 5 ½ minutes; their shortest, barely 2 minutes.
The Enterprise test flights exercised the onboard systems and demonstrated the handling characteristics of the first winged spacecraft designed to land like an aircraft. Haise and Fullerton, and alternating test pilot crew Joe Engle and Richard Truly, ushered in the Space Shuttle era at the controls of Enterprise.
Fred Haise gave this flight suit to the Museum when Enterprise went on display in 2004.
Display Status
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin
United States of America
Type
PERSONAL EQUIPMENT-Flight Clothing
Astronaut
Fred W. Haise Jr.
Manufacturer
General Electric Co.
Dimensions
Clothing: 157.5 x 55.9cm (62 x 22 in.)
Clothing Size: MR
Materials
fabric (nomex), velcro, leather (name tag), brass (zippers and snaps)
Inventory Number
A20040278000
Credit Line
Gift of Fred W. Haise
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
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