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Author
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Topic: Gemini spacesuit gloves for spacewalks
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Explorer1
Member Posts: 92
From: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Registered: Apr 2019
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posted 12-07-2019 05:03 AM
   
For the Gemini missions where spacewalks were involved, did the crew carry two sets of gloves for each crewman, specifically a pair of intravehicular gloves and extravehicular gloves for each?And I believe it was the Gemini 4 mission where a glove went floating out of the capsule. Was it Jim McDivitt's or Ed White's glove? |
space1
Member Posts: 853
From: Danville, Ohio
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 12-07-2019 09:54 AM
The glove that floated out of the hatchway on Gemini 4 was for White to wear over his suit glove for EVA. I don't know why he did not use it.I am not an expert on suits, but I believe that all of the other Gemini EVA pilots wore only their regular suit gloves. These would have had the extra protective layers of the EVA suit. |
Explorer1
Member Posts: 92
From: Los Angeles, CA, USA
Registered: Apr 2019
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posted 12-08-2019 02:15 AM
I am only estimating here and that is why I am seeking a definitive answer but I assume that two pairs of gloves were carried aboard the Gemini spacecraft for each crewmen. The intravehicular gloves were thinner obviously for better dexterity in handling switches, whereas wearing a bulky pair of EVA gloves would not have been preferable. I am not aware of the Gemini intravehicular gloves coming with a "cover glove" that could be worn over the intravehicular pair for EVA purposes, but I do not know for sure, so awaiting other input. Thank you for pointing out that the glove that floated away was White's. |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 43003
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 12-08-2019 11:38 AM
According to NASA SP-149, Summary of Gemini Extravehicular Activity: ...the extravehicular pilot used integrated pressure thermal gloves, in lieu of the pressure gloves and overgloves used for Gemini IV. The gloves were designed to protect the hands from micrometeoroids and to prevent conductive heat transfer through the glove palms caused from touching surfaces with temperatures ranging from 250 degrees to -150 degree F. Structurally and functionally, the gloves were similar to the standard intravehicular pressure gloves with a pressure bladder, a restraint layer, and a wrist connector. A 1/8-inch-thick, flexible, insulating, silastic material was provided on the palm side of the glove for conduction insulation. Micrometeoroid protection was through additional layers of fabric used in the layup of the glove.For intravehicular spacecraft operations, the pilot utilized standard intravehicular gloves of the same design as the command pilot's.  |
space1
Member Posts: 853
From: Danville, Ohio
Registered: Dec 2002
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posted 12-08-2019 11:54 AM
Thank you, Robert. I hadn't realized the EVA pilot had two sets of gloves. |
Lou Chinal
Member Posts: 1310
From: Staten Island, NY
Registered: Jun 2007
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posted 01-06-2020 08:39 PM
As a side note, Ed White's toothbrush also floated away while the hatch was open. |
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