The Shuttle Ejection Escape Suit was used from STS-1 (1981) to STS-4 (1982) by a two-man crew used in conjunction with Space Shuttle Columbia's ejection seats. It allowed ejections up to Mach 2.7 and 24.4 km (80,000 ft).^[1] The suit was manufactured by the David Clark Company of Worcester, Massachusetts. It was derived from the USAF Model S1030 suit, which at the time, was being worn by SR-71 pilots.^[1] The Shuttle was certified as operational for STS-5, at which point the escape suits were replaced with light blue coveralls.^[1] The seats themselves were deactivated during STS-5 and removed before STS-9, with the intervening flights conducted by Space Shuttle Challenger, which did not have ejection seats.

Specifications

• Name: Shuttle Ejection Escape Suit (S1030A)^[2][1]
• Derived from: USAF Model S1030^[2][1]
• Manufacturer: David Clark Company^[2]
• Missions: STS-1 to STS-4^[1]
• Function: Intra-vehicular activity (IVA) and Ejection^[2]
• Operating Pressure: 2.7 psi (18.6 kPa)^[2]
• Suit Weight: 40 lb (18 kg)^[2]
• Primary Life Support: Vehicle Provided^[2]
• Backup Life Support: Vehicle Provided^[2]

Images

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shuttle Ejection Escape Suit.

• Kenneth S. Thomas & Harold J. McMann (2006). US Spacesuits. Chichester, UK: Praxis Publishing Ltd. pp. 38, 368. ISBN 0-387-27919-9.