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Suit, Rocket Fuel Handler

National Air and Space Museum

Object Details

Summary
Shown here is a rocket fuel handler's suit. Given that the insert on the back of the garment specifies that special care must be taken to avoid contact with both fuel and oxidizer, it is likely that the time period of its use dates from the 1950s or 1960s. During that time, all large-scale launch vehicles used liquid propellants, typically nitric acid and aniline, kerosene and liquid oxygen, and by the late 1960s, liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. In these cases, fueling had to be completed just prior to launch. Super cooled temperatures and volatility--especially in the case of liquid hydrogen--required careful handling.
The manufacturer and donor are presently unknown.
Credit Line
Found in collection. Donor unknown at this time. Found on NASM premises.
Inventory Number
A20020257000
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
PERSONAL EQUIPMENT-Miscellaneous
Materials
Synthetic Rubber
Plastic
Aluminum
Non-Ferrous Metal
Elastic
Dimensions
Height, 57 inches; width, 20 inches; width, with sleeves stretched out, 55 inches; width, each leg, 12 inches; width, each arm, 4.5 inches
Country of Origin
United States of America
See more items in
National Air and Space Museum Collection
National Air and Space Museum
Record ID
nasm_A20020257000
Metadata Usage (text)
Not determined
GUID (Link to Original Record)
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9b7b4266b-70c4-4dd4-ae49-7b30c8a67e90

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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.
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