The history of this country is one of perilous voyages and unchartered territory, but few journeys have captured the imagination and hearts of the public as the race into space. It was seemingly unattainable, but American ingenuity, innovation, and determination made the impossible possible. And it is that ingenuity and innovation that is explored and celebrated in the SITES exhibit Suited for Space.

Through rare and original photography, including unique, new x-ray images of the interiors of the spacesuits, the exhibit reveals how the modern technological marvel that is the spacesuit enables astronauts to live and work in space. This exhibit reveals the remarkable creativity and determination of the extraordinary few who ventured into space, but it highlights and showcases the brilliant ingenuity of the hundreds more who worked tirelessly—and often anonymously—to get them there. 

In May 1961, when President Kennedy made the promise that America would put a man on the moon within a decade, the ability to fulfill that promise existed only in theory. The spacesuit was a critical piece of engineering that allowed Neil Armstrong to step onto another world and survive in the hostile environment of outer space. The Apollo spacesuit he wore evolved from the groundbreaking advances of the Gemini and Mercury mission suits, facilitating movement and dexterity in small spaces, remaining pressurized in zero gravity, and providing essential oxygen, heating, and cooling in as efficient a manner as possible.

A spacesuit is not just an article of clothing, but a complex modern suit of armor. While only a tiny percentage of people will ever wear one,  the science and engineering that went into their design has made its way to more earth-bound applications: improving the safety of firefighters and race car drivers through the creation of fire resistant materials, alleviating certain medical conditions through the use of cooling suits, assisting athletes at all levels by helping to create a more flexible, shock absorbing shoe, protecting children, who typically cannot use traditional gas masks, from various chemical and biological agents through the development of a shielding hood, and in the ultimate give back, utilizing the same textile technologies to create an ecologically friendly building material. These and other little-known engineering secrets will be uncovered in Suited for Space through a survey of the specific trials, errors, and breakthrough discoveries associated with the one-time-use suits developed for the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo missions.

Twenty-five years ago  the incredible collection of artifacts and curatorial scholarship upon which the book and this exhibit are based didn’t even exist. Over the course of her career at NASM, Amanda Young has become the keeper and protector of the largest repository of spacesuits from the United States Space program, a collection that includes over 1,000 spacesuits, pressure-suits, and components (gloves, boots, and helmets). The artifacts represent a tangible timeline of the groundbreaking concepts, ideas, and solutions that contributed to the achievement of human space flight. Young has become a leading authority on the methods of care and conservation needed to ensure preservation of these unique artifacts. Her extensive knowledge and scholarship will inform every aspect of the exhibition, from exhibit panels to a podcast.

>>Behind-the-scenes interview with Amanda Young

Educational and promotional resources

To be determined

Devra Wexler, 202.633.3114 (Content/design)
Shavonne Harding, 202.633.3138 (Scheduling)

March 2011

Spacesuits: The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum Collection by Amanda Young. Brooklyn: powerHouse Books, 2009. Hard cover.

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