Apollo space suits

Yellowed life support tubing from Apollo space suit showing crystalline phthalic acid on outer surfaces. The tuhe is 15 mm in diameter. 

This convenient method has been used successfully to keep air breathable for humans living in extreme environments like deep-sea diving apparatuses, submarines, space suits, and spacecraft. One of the many serious problems that occurred during the Apollo 13 lunar mission involved LiOH canisters that didn t fit the air purification system. 

After the tragedy of Apollo 1, NASA intensified its focus on advanced fire-resistant materials and one of the first alternatives considered was PBI. NASA contracted with Celanese Corporation to develop a line of PBI textiles for use in space suits and vehicles. Heat and flame resistant PBI fabric based on the fiber for high-temperature applications was developed. The fibers developed from the PBI polymer showed a number of highly desirable features, such as inflammability, no melting point, and retention of both strength and flexibility after exposure to flames. The stiff fibers also maintained their integrity when exposed to high temperatures and were mildew, abrasion and chemical resistant. 

The Kr and Xe isotopic compositions in the solar wind have not yet been determined directly, neither in space nor with foils. On the other hand, lunar soil samples are well suited to study the isotopic composition of these elements in the solar wind, because the moon contains hardly any indigenous Kr and Xe. The good agreement of the He and Ne compositions deduced from regolithic samples with the values determined in situ or the Apollo solar wind composition experiment gives us confidence that the lunar data for the two heavy noble gases are also reliable. Frequently used recent values are given in Table... 

Space applications for Ag-Zn cells include powering the space shuttle, space station, the lunar rover. Mars lander, and deep space probes. They were also used in the Saturn launch vehicles, the Apollo Lunar Lander, and life support jacket and to power space module operations Ml launch and return. In addition, they power spacecraft during launch and reentry. The lunar rover and space-walk suits are powered by the Ag-Zn battery systems. They also supply burst of power to supplement the fuel cell for operations in the command module. 

Such fuel cells were used in the 1960s and 1970s to power Gemini and Apollo spacecraft. These cells are still widely deployed aboard the space shuttles, which clearly indicates their remarkable mechanical integrity and reliable electrical performance over extended periods. Because of compact size, improved reliability, and cost-effective performance under severe operating environments, these fuel cells are best suited for military and space applications involving UAVC, UUG, UUV, UAV, MRAP, and anti-IED operations. 

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