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Old July 9th 06, 03:38 AM posted to sci.space.history
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Default number of layers in Apollo, ISS spacesuit ?


Thierry wrote:
Hi,

Could someone help be to find the correct version ?

I read at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extrave..._Mobility_Unit
that the apollo EVA suit was made of 21 layers. It is the first time I read
this.
Most websites tell that the A7L suit used for EVA during the moon missions
had only 7 layers
Question : what suit used Apollo crew during EVA ? An A7L made of 7-layers
or something else ?


From "U.S. Space Gear, Outfitting the Astronaut" by Lillian D.

Kozloski, the lunar extravehicular suit A7LB used on Apollo 14, 15, 16
and 17 included:

Layers:
1 - Teflon cloth
2 - Beta cloth
3,5,7 - Beta marquisette
4,6 - Aluminized gridded Kapton
8,10,12,14,16 - Aluminized Mylar performated film
9,11,13,15,17 - Nonwoven Dacron
18 - Neoprene-coated Nylon
19 - Nylon fabric
20 - Neoprene-coated Nylon
21 - Lycra jersey
22 - Lightweight Nomex cloth

In addition, the Liquid Cooling Garment is listed as:

23 - Nylon spandex (Hold vinyl tubing)
24 - Vinyl tubing (Water cooling distribution
25 - Porous nylon (Comfort layer)


Do you also confirm that it was only for ISS that NASA used a 14-layer suit
to made the EMU.
Some speak of a 15 layer suit ? Was the original EMU made of 14 layers, and
the lastest one, a bit lighter named ISS EMU made of 15 layers ?


The same reference shows a shuttle EMU consisting of:

For the thermal micrometeoroid garment:
1 - Ortho-fabric (Gore-Tex fibers woven with Nomex, backed with Kevlar)
2-6, Aluminized Mylar backed with unwoven Dacron
7 - Neoprene-coated nylon ripstop

and the PGA consisting of:
8 - Dacron woven with axial lines
9 - Polyurethane-coated Nylon

and a liquid cooling garment of
10 - Nylon acetate spandex woven with tubing
11 - Nylon acetate

Note that some of these are listed as separate layers in the A7LB suit,
but combined in the EMU suit. This doesn't answer all your question,
but is at least a starting point.

Thanks for your light

Thierry