G3C Space Suits Credit - NASA

Dave Clark G3C initial Gemini production flight suits were worn aboard Gemini 3, and by the spacecraft commanders of Gemini 6 and 8..

Grissom and Young wore G3C suits serial number G3C-1 and G3C-4 on Gemini 3. The suits in the photograph had an aluminized covering, while Grissom and Young's flight suits were covered with white nylon. The suits may have been revised before flight, or training articles were being worn in the photo. Schirra almost certainly wore a G3C model on Gemini 6 - serial number G3C-3. Armstrong's flight suit for Gemini 8 was recorded as serial number G3C-24, implying that he wore a suit that had probably been assigned to him when he was training as the Gemini 5 back-up commander.

• 1962 November 6 - B. F. Goodrich delivered a prototype partial-wear, quick-assembly, full-pressure suit to Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC) for evaluation by Life Systems Division. -

  The partial-wear feature of this suit, demanded by the long-duration missions planned for the Gemini program, comprised detachable suit components (sleeves, legs, helmets). This was the second of two partial-wear suit prototypes called for by the original contract; but MSC had, in the meantime, requested B. F. Goodrich to provide 14 more suits based on this design. The additional suits varied only in size; they were to follow the design of the prototype according to the spacifications of October 10, 1962. The prototype, originally designated G-2G, became G-2G-1 and the remaining suits were designated G-2G-2 through G-2G-15. MSC requested extensive design changes after evaluating G-2G-1 and several other suits. The final model was G-2G-8, delivered to MSC on January 21, 1963. It was later rejected in favor of a suit designed by David Clark Company, Inc., Worcester, Massachusetts, which incorporated B. F. Goodrich helmets, gloves, and additional hardware.

• 1963 June 13 - Contract for Gemini space suit signed with the David Clark Company. -

  The definitive contract for Gemini space suit was signed with the David Clark Company. Negotiations had been completed May 28. The estimated cost was $788,594.80, with fixed fee of $41,000 for a total cost-plus-fixed-fee contract of $829,594.80.

• 1963 March 21 - A meeting at Manned Spacecraft Center established guidelines for extra-vehicular operations. - Flight: Gemini 3, Gemini 4.

  The current concept of the pressure suit as a single-wall pressure vessel was to be retained; the basic suit could be modified by such additions as loose thermal covering or gloves and boots. Additional Details: A meeting at Manned Spacecraft Center established guidelines for extra-vehicular operations. (21375).

• 1964 August 22 - Amendment to the Gemini flight suit contract, - Flight: Gemini 3.

  Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC) Procurement and Contracts Division reported that the amendment to the Gemini flight suit contract covering G3C flight suits and related equipment for Gemini-Titan (GT) 3 had been sent to the contractor, David Clark Company. The first four Gemini flight suits, to be used in GT-3, were delivered to MSC late in August. Because of earlier problems in fitting training suits, astronauts had had preliminary fittings of the flight suits before final delivery.

• 1964 December 7 - A four-day comfort test of the Gemini space suit was started as part of the suit qualification test program. -

  The test utilized a human volunteer and ended successfully on December 11. The suited subject used Gemini food and bioinstrumentation and the Gemini waste management systems hardware.

• 1964 January 9 - Representatives of Crew Systems Division (CSD) and David Clark Company met to review the design of the G2C training and qualification pressure suit. -

  Several components needed approval before being incorporated into the G3C flight suit configuration; CSD completed a statement of work for procuring the flight suits January 17; G3C suit procurement was expected to begin in March. Qualification and reliability tests of the G2C suit were also expected to begin in March.

• 1964 October 26 - Russell L. Schweickart spent eight days in a Gemini space suit to evaluate Gemini biomedical recording instruments. -

  While in the suit, the astronaut flew several zero-g flight profiles, went through a simulated four-day Gemini mission, and experienced several centrifuge runs.