I was an aerospace engineer with the NASA Manned Spacecraft Center In Houston in the ‘60s. AMA

I was an aerospace engineer with the NASA Manned Spacecraft Center In Houston in the ‘60s. AMA

What would you like to know about?

I and a suit technician developed the insulation used on the Apollo space suit. I was frequently a test subject for the life support systems and space suits.

Gil Freedman
US Space Program Participation
Contributor to Development of Apollo Space Suit

Areospace Technologist/Engineer with NASA Space Task Group (STG) Hampton VA, and Manned Spacecraft Center, Houston TX, 1961-64.

Human test subject in closed ground capsule, Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC) Crew Systems Division, Lane Wells Bldg, Houston, to prove safe extension of Mercury life support ECS (Environmental Control System) from 90 minutes (3 orbits) to 24 hours.

Frequent evaluator of prototype suit mobility.
First American to demonstrate thermal heat exchanger under garment.
First portable lunar life support system (PLSS) technical monitor.
Co-developer of Apollo suit thermal protection.

Personal notes: Was on a nodding acquaintanceship with the astronauts. Several times briefed them on the PLSS and suit versions. Played handball at Langley AFB with Gus Grissom (he won). Dated their secretary (she said they loved to throw fire crackers around when it was quiet in the office.)

Friend of Marine helicopter pilot forced to release flooded Mercury capsule in Atlantic off Florida coast. (Hatch had been accidentally prematurely blown by astronaut, I believe.)
As part of Recovery Operations, tested life raft prototype in Chesapeake Bay in November. Water cold; almost drowned.
Senior research engineer at Lockheed Missiles and Space Co, Bioengineering Division. Developed lunar environment treadmill 20 ft long, 4 ft wide., capable of 30 miles per hour. Team showed loping gait would probably be used, not normal walking.

Publications

Published
Control Of Man’s Thermal Environment During An Extravehicular Mission
*Life Support For Lunar Exploration *

Internal
First EVA (extra-vehicular activity) concept and definition of “tether” with co-engineer.

Submitted March 25, 2019 at 11:09AM by gil491 https://ift.tt/2CAX0V2