MCI Project Summaries 2008 - Smithsonian Institution

MCI 6079 Lunar Dust on Apollo Spacesuit Systems
MCI Staff: Mary W. Ballard, Mel J. Wachowiak, Lynn B. Brostoff, Ron H. Cunningham
Apollo spacesuits of Teflon and Teflon-coated fiberglass textiles from the late 1960s and
early 1970s were examined close-up with scanning electron microscopy for imagery of the
textiles and the associated embedded dust from the lunar surface. NASA is researching the
effects of the lunar soil on the textiles of the spacesuits, especially the level of abrading and
damage to the textiles as a result of this close association. Research will be applied to the design
and construction of future spacesuits. Charles Duke’s Apollo 16 pressure glove and Harrison
Schmitt’s Apollo 17 spacesuit, glove assembly and lunar boot were reviewed. Extensive optical
microscopic images, SEM low vacuum imaging, Beta radiograph, and XRF analysis were all
used to analyze the spacesuits.
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