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.

Video

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

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