This is a left glove of a pair belonging to an AX1-L spacesuit used during the Apollo program. ILC Industries manufactured these gloves in 1963 as an Apollo prototype. The AX1-L's design consisted of hard-angled suit segments rotating on aluminized nylon pressure sealing bearings to provide low-torque mobility.
AX1-L gloves were leather with sewn-on restraint webbing to bring about a more conformal shape and share the pressure load. The glove fit tightly at the wrist for limited wrist mobility and required unzipping a zipper to don or remove the glove. The gloves were attached to the suit with anodized aluminum disconnect rings-- always red for the right glove and blue for the left.
NASA transferred the gloves and the suit to the museum after the end of the Apollo program.
Display Status
This object is on display in Destination Moon at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC.
Object Details
Country of Origin
United States of America
Type
PERSONAL EQUIPMENT-Handwear
Manufacturer
ILC Industries Inc.
Dimensions
3-D: 24.1 x 10.8 x 11.4cm (9 1/2 x 4 1/4 x 4 1/2 in.)
Materials
Anodized Aluminum, Aluminized Nylon, Leather, Steel, Rubber/Neoprene, Adhesive
Inventory Number
A19730841002
Credit Line
Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
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