New NASA Book Reveals Pressure Suits are Height of Fashion

Sept. 5, 2012

Michael Braukus
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1979
michael.j.braukus@nasa.gov

RELEASE: 12-308

NEW NASA BOOK REVEALS PRESSURE SUITS ARE HEIGHT OF FASHION

WASHINGTON -- NASA has published a colorful, picture-filled book that
details the development and use of the protective clothing worn by
test pilots, astronauts and others as they soar high above Earth.

"Dressing for Altitude: U.S. Aviation Pressure Suits -- Wiley Post to
Space Shuttle" provides a 526-page survey of the partial- and
full-pressure suits designed to keep humans alive at the edge of
space since their first use during the years before World War II.
Pressure suits are not the spacesuits worn by spacewalking
astronauts.

The book explores the challenges the clothiers-turned-engineers faced
in designing a garment that could be relatively lightweight,
flexible, inflatable, and still keep an ejecting pilot safe at high
altitude and in the water.

"This work is designed to provide the history of the technology and
explore the lessons learned through the years of research in
creating, testing, and utilizing today's high-altitude suits," said
Tony Springer of NASA's Aeronautics Research Mission Directorate at
the agency's headquarters in Washington.

Dennis R. Jenkins, a writer, engineer and manager with 30 years of
experience working on NASA programs, including the space shuttle,
wrote the book and assembled its photographs and illustrations.
Jenkins said he became interested in the topic especially after
studying the work and dedication of Goodrich and David Clark Company,
the two major companies responsible for most of the pressure suit's
development through the years.

"I knew little about pressure suits going into the book, so the entire
process was a learning exercise to me," Jenkins said.

To order printed copies of the coffee-table-style book from NASA's
Information Center, visit:

http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/hqlibrary/ic/ic2.htm

To download an e-book version of the book in PDF format at no charge,
visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/connect/ebooks/

For more information about aeronautics research at NASA, visit:

http://www.aeronautics.nasa.gov


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