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Author
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Topic: Apollo 13: Lovell's spacesuit markings
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WAWalsh
Member Posts: 809
From: Cortlandt Manor, NY
Registered: May 2000
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posted 03-24-2003 11:06 AM
   
During the wishful thinking sequence in "Apollo 13" when Jim Lovell is shown envisioning his first steps on the moon, his spacesuit in the movie raised two questions:First, was Lovell's suit going to be the first one with the red commander's stripe? (I suspect this is a yes.) Second, the movie shows the center crown of the helmet with Navy anchors, did Capt. Lovell actually make this addition to his helmet for the mission? |
Robert Pearlman
Editor Posts: 43576
From: Houston, TX
Registered: Nov 1999
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posted 03-24-2003 11:38 AM
Yes, Jim Lovell's real spacesuit, seen here prior to flight, shows the red stripes and his LEVA does indeed have the Navy anchor decal. 
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LM-12
Member Posts: 3324
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 08-30-2013 11:29 PM
Photo S70-34848 is another. |
LM-12
Member Posts: 3324
From: Ontario, Canada
Registered: Oct 2010
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posted 05-06-2015 09:23 PM
Although they are not seen in this Apollo 13 image, Jim Lovell had red stripes on his training suit when the original crew photo was taken near Pad A.Here is a black and white photo that shows the stripes. |
heng44
Member Posts: 3413
From: Netherlands
Registered: Nov 2001
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posted 05-09-2015 05:14 AM
I believe the Navy anchor on Lovell's LEVA is shown in in-flight television footage of the LM inspection. |
schnappsicle
Member Posts: 396
From: Houston, TX, USA
Registered: Jan 2012
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posted 05-15-2015 07:35 AM
Why would NASA allow Lovell to put the Navy anchor on his helmet? From what I can recall, Eisenhower established NASA to be a non-military branch of the services. He wanted to avoid using space for military purposes. Yes, I know all the astronauts back then were military test pilots. But when they came to NASA, there were no ranks or branches. Everyone was technically equal. I'm only asking because I think a Navy anchor would only serve to reinforce (magnify) the military's role in NASA, something the U.S. wanted to avoid at all costs. Before anyone shoots me, I think it's awesome that Lovell did it. I just can't understand how he got away with it. |
onesmallstep
Member Posts: 1313
From: Staten Island, New York USA
Registered: Nov 2007
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posted 05-15-2015 10:34 AM
Yes, astronauts may have been (and still are) technically "equal" as to dress (civilian) and being addressed by their first name in many cases, but the similarities end there. Military officers of any branch are technically seconded to NASA, and as such receive their base pay according to their rank, plus (for the pilots) flight pay. And they do wear their pilot/naval flight officer wings on their flight coveralls. Pete Conrad and Dick Gordon wore theirs on their spacesuits on Gemini 11. |
User997
Member Posts: 59
From:
Registered: Oct 2005
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posted 05-15-2015 11:08 PM
I saw Lovell's Apollo 13 EVA helmet in person at Chicago's Adler Planetarium back in 2008 and it very clearly had the Navy logo on it.  |
schnappsicle
Member Posts: 396
From: Houston, TX, USA
Registered: Jan 2012
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posted 05-18-2015 06:55 AM
I know why the other helmets weren't reused, but why wasn't this helmet used later by Shepard, Young or Cernan? Was there any consideration given to reuse perfectly good parts of Lovell or Haise's suits by later crews? |
Rick Mulheirn
Member Posts: 4208
From: England
Registered: Feb 2001
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posted 05-18-2015 08:46 AM
On later missions (Apollo 15 onwards) NASA used the amended A7LB spacesuits for lunar EVA. The lunar regolith was not kind to hard surfaces and moving parts on the suits so reusing suit parts would not have been advisable. Though I am sure the LEVA would have been transferable.Ken Mattingly wore John Young's LEVA for his deep space EVA. By the time Lovell flew I'd imagine the suits for Apollo 14 were already made and complete. |
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