Skip to main content Skip to main navigation
heart-solid My Visit Donate
Home Smithsonian Institution IK development site for ODI
Press Enter to activate a submenu, down arrow to access the items and Escape to close the submenu.
    • Overview
    • Museums and Zoo
    • Entry and Guidelines
    • Museum Maps
    • Dine and Shop
    • Accessibility
    • Visiting with Kids
    • Group Visits
    • Overview
    • Exhibitions
    • Online Events
    • All Events
    • IMAX & Planetarium
    • Overview
    • Topics
    • Collections
    • Research Resources
    • Stories
    • Podcasts
    • Overview
    • For Caregivers
    • For Educators
    • For Students
    • For Academics
    • For Lifelong Learners
    • Overview
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Membership
    • Make a Gift
    • Volunteer
    • Overview
    • Our Organization
    • Our Leadership
    • Reports and Plans
    • Newsdesk
heart-solid My Visit Donate

Pressure Suit, "Lobster Shell"

Air and Space Museum

There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer

Object Details

Manufacturer

International Latex Corporation

Summary

This is a spacesuit known as the "Lobster Shell" suit. The International Latex Company built and submitted this suit to NASA in 1965 as a proposal for suits for an advanced Apollo program, a program that NASA later cancelled. The suit gets its name from the shaped fiberglass sections in the arms and legs that were designed to protect astronauts experiencing high gravitational forces. It is easy to identify the suit by its broad, thick shoulders. Even though the program was cancelled, other contractors offered similar designs to the U.S. Air Force for their Manned Orbiting Laboratory program.
NASA Ames Research Center transferred this spacesuit to the Museum in 2004 after they concluded testing it for their advanced suit design.

Credit Line

Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Inventory Number

A20040268000

Restrictions & Rights

Usage conditions apply

Type

PERSONAL EQUIPMENT-Pressure Suits

Materials

Anodized Aluminum, Nylon, rubber/neoprene, neoprene-coated nylon, aluminized nylon, brass, steel, leather

Dimensions

Approximate: 33.02 x 160.02 x 76.2cm (1ft 1in. x 5ft 3in. x 2ft 6in.)

Country of Origin

United States of America

See more items in

National Air and Space Museum Collection

Data Source

National Air and Space Museum

Metadata Usage

Not determined

Link to Original Record

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv96bc563db-be66-42ae-9143-98e3cb4d23be

Record ID

nasm_A20040268000

Discover More

Space Shuttle orbiter Discovery on display in the McDonnell Space Hangar at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

Human Spaceflight

Space Shuttle orbiter Discovery on display in the McDonnell Space Hangar at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center

Human Spaceflight

arrow-up Back to top
Home
  • Facebook facebook
  • Instagram instagram
  • LinkedIn linkedin
  • YouTube youtube

  • Contact Us
  • Get Involved
  • Shop Online
  • Job Opportunities
  • Equal Opportunity
  • Inspector General
  • Records Requests
  • Accessibility
  • Host Your Event
  • Press Room
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use