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This is an AX-5 prototype spacesuit. The name is an abbreviation for Ames Research Center, Experimental Suit Design. It was the fifth and final in the series. Technicians and engineers at NASA's Ames Research Center built the suit to demonstrate possible means of providing high-pressure mobility to future space suits. This suit was planned for post-Apollo programs, possibly space station use. Because the suit has a rigid structure, it can withstand high levels of air pressure and thus allow astronauts to forego the requirement to pre-breathe oxygen to purge nitrogen from his or her blood before taking a spacewalk. The round, toroidal joints allow astronauts free movement, nearly matching that of a human not wearing a spacesuit. NASA continues to use some of the features in this suit in planning for the next generation spacesuit for space station, lunar, asteroid and planetary missions. The suit has an alumium based that is covered with enamel.

NASA Ames Research Center transferred this suit to the Museum 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
Type PERSONAL EQUIPMENT-Pressure Suits Manufacturer NASA Ames Research Center
 Dimensions 3-D: 52.1 × 101.6 × 182.9cm (1 ft. 8 1/2 in. × 3 ft. 4 in. × 6 ft.)
 Materials Plastic
Aluminum
Synthetic
Coating
Copper Alloy
 Inventory Number A20040266000 Credit Line Transferred from NASA Ames Research Center. Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.