dsce0145.jpg

The sign accompanying the A7LB suit. It reads

A7L Apollo Commander Suit

The Apollo model A7L suit was engineered with specialized materials needed for Moon missions, such as an integrated life support system and boots for walking on the lunar surface. All Apollo suits were custom-made for the individual wearing them. This suit was made for Richard Gordon, Jr. who was slated for the Apollo 18 mission, which was cancelled. The red stripes were to identify Gordon as the mission's commander.

Apollo 17 Commander Eugene Cernan wearing a similar suit on the Moon.

Although the sign identifies this as an A7L suit, this is definitely an A7LB. The A7L, worn up to and including Apollo 14 mission, was modified for better overall flexibility and, in particular, so that the astronauts would be able to sit and ride on the Lunar Roving Vehicle, creating the A7LB version of the suit.

The most prominent visible differences on the A7LB from the A7L are the two sets of three chest connectors arranged in triangles (as compared to two columns of three chest connectors on the A7L) and an entrance zipper that ran from the right shoulder, around the back, and to the left hip (rather than entrance zipper running from back of the neck, down the back, and around to the front crotch area on the A7L).

Not only were suits custom-made for each astronaut, each astronaut was his own size! ID tags on the suit use the astronaut's name for the suit's size.

When the photographs from Apollo 11were published, there was confusion as to which astronaut appeared in that photograph, as they both looked the same in a spacesuit (other than their nametag). Starting with Apollo 13, red stripes were added to the upper arm, knees, and helmet.