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This page deals with the different types of space suits used in the Gemini two-man spacecraft project.
This picture shows the crew of Gemini 3, the first Gemini flight in the newly designed Gemini space suits. These suits were not specialized for EVAs, but they were adequate to protect the crew in the event of even an accidental opening of the hatch, so they were space-ready. They are basicallly identical to the suits used in Gemini 9 (below) but they don't have as much insulation or the polarized sun visor. You will notice that they are silver, not white. This was a leftover idea from the Mercury suits.
This is the Gemini spacesuit used in Gemini 9. It is configured for extravehicular activity, and the dark material on the legs is a highly flame-proof fabric designed to protect the suit and its wearer from the rocket exhaust of the astronaut maneuvering unit, a "space jetpack." It had one oxygen inlet, one oxygen outlet, and the communications connector was on the suit, not the helmet, as in previous suits. The oxygen outlet went back to the craft life-support system, so the suit was COMPLETELY sealed, and the air could be filtered and reused, instead of being vented off. This suit had a rear zipper entry, the first American suit to incorporate this into its design. It also had both oxygen connectors on the suit itself, also a first.
This suit is the Gemini G5-C, a lightweight version of the regular Gemini suit, intended for the 14 day flight of Gemini 7. It weighed only 16 pounds, as opposed to the other Gemini suits, which weighed 32 pounds. However, this suit was not equipped for extravehicular activity, and it was only intended to protect the Gemini astronauts in the case of a cabin depressurization. This suit could be partially doffed in flight. The gloves and boots could be removed, and the "helmet." which was really just a soft hood that zippered shut, could be unzipped and rolled back to form a headrest. It offered more freedom of movement, and was the result of numerous tests.
Step one- Put on the undergarment, this is the light cloth suit resembling long johns. It houses the biomedical instrumentation electrodes and urine collector.
Step two- Insert legs into the legs of the suit. Open the rear suit zipper fully and step into the legs.
Step three- Connect internal biomedical and communication lines. Attach biomedical wires on undergarment to connectors on inside of suit.
Step four- Insert head through neck ring. Bend down into the suit and push your head up through the neck ring.
Step five- Slide your arms into the sleeves. Insert your arms into the suits sleeves, and slide the suit's arms over your arms.
Step six- Seal the suit zipper. Stand up and have an assistant zip the suit's pressure-sealing zipper closed from the base of the neck ring, down between your legs, and up to about your navel. Snap the zipper slide in place with the snap. Then, cover the zipper with the zipper cover, down the back and up to the entrance slide fastener flap. Close the flap with the snaps.
Step seven- Connect the umbilicals. Connect the blue oxygen hose to the blue connector on the front of the suit. Connect the red exhaust hose to the red connector on the front of the suit. Connect the communication line (If inside craft) to the communication connection above the blue oxygen connector.
Step eight- Put on gloves. Put gloves on hands and fit rings together. Turn connecting rings clockwise until they lock.
Step nine- Put on the helmet. Put the helmet over your head with the faceplate (open) facing forward. Pull the neck ring up to the ring on the bottom of the helmet and join them. Press the rings together firmly, and slide the fastener on the neck ring to your right until it locks the helmet in place. Pull the faceplate down over your face and seal it.
Congratulations, you are now wearing a Gemini space suit that is fully isolated from the outside environment. You can't tell me that this wouldn't be fun.
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