Gallery: X-Rays Reveal the Insane Innards of Space Suits

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    01

    spaceeee1

    This arm unit of a suit made in 1962 is made of solid aluminum. Ball bearings in the wrist and shoulder and the "bellows" at the elbow provided a surprising amount of flexibility. Photo: *Mark Avino, Smithsonian Institution*
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    02

    spaceee2

    The right side of Harrison Schmitt's Apollo 17 lunar glove. Photo: *Mark Avino, Smithsonian Institution*
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    space-helmet

    The X-ray of this helmet made in 1964 reveals ball bearings in the neck ring that allowed the helmet to move right and left without restriction. Photo: *Mark Avino, Smithsonian Institution*
  • The general design of the bubble helmet used for the Apollo missions still is in use today. Photo Mark Avino Smithsonian...
    Mark Avino
    04

    Helmet. Pressure Dome, Experimental; 1982-0463-001, side view

    The general design of the bubble helmet used for the Apollo missions still is in use today. Photo: *Mark Avino, Smithsonian Institution*
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    Roland H. Cunningham and Mark Av
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    Clothing, Space Suits, Apollo, Extra-Vehicular A-7; Shepard, Alan B., Jr.; Apollo 14 Flight

    Alan Shepard's Apollo 14 A-7 Extravehicular Suit. Photo: *Mark Avino, Smithsonian Institution*
  • The EX1A space suit was an experimental suit that never saw outer space. Photo Mark Avino Smithsonian Institution
    Ron Cunningham and Mark Avino
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    Clothing, Space Suits, Hard Suits, EX-1A Advanced Vehicular Suit (AES) (AiResearch)

    The EX-1A space suit was an experimental suit that never saw outer space. Photo: *Mark Avino, Smithsonian Institution*
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