Neil Armstrong's Moon Space Suit Is Deteriorating | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-10.27.25

AirborneNextGen-
10.28.25

Airborne-Unlimited-10.29.25

Airborne-Unlimited-10.30.25

AirborneUnlimited-10.17.25

Mon, Sep 03, 2018

Neil Armstrong's Moon Space Suit Is Deteriorating

Plastic And Neoprene Components Are Becoming Brittle And Degrading

The space suit that Neil Armstrong wore on the historic Apollo 11 moon mission is falling apart, and while its custodians at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space museum are trying to preserve it, the suit is showing its age.

The main culprit is a layer of neoprene embedded in the fabric of the suit. Neoprene is the material that is used to make wetsuits, and over time it hardens and becomes brittle.

CNet cites a report in the New York Times which indicates that the Smithsonian took the suit off display 12 years ago in an effort to preserve the historic artifact. They have managed to slow the aging process, but not stop it.

There are 21 layers of fabric, including nylon and Teflon, that make up the suit. The Smithsonian did not respond to CNet's request for a comment and an explanation of what measures are being taken to preserve the suit.

(NASA image)

FMI: Source report

Advertisement

More News

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (11.02.25)

"Aero-News has been working with SUN n FUN as their media partner for the better part of a decade and gotten to know their crew quite well... but this cooperative undertaking has p>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (11.02.25): Inner-Approach OFZ

Inner-Approach OFZ The inner-approach OFZ is a defined volume of airspace centered on the approach area. The inner-approach OFZ applies only to runways with an approach lighting sy>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: MultiGP Drone Racing - Aviation’s New Action Sport

From 2017 (YouTube Edition): Pilots Competed For $10,000 For A First Place Finish… Drone Racing came to the Sebring Sport Aviation Expo in January, with pilots competing for>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (11.03.25): On-Course Indication

On-Course Indication An indication on an instrument, which provides the pilot a visual means of determining that the aircraft is located on the centerline of a given navigational t>[...]

Airborne 10.29.25: X-59 Flies!!!, Kings Aid CFIs, Shutdown Hurts ATC Training

Also: AIR Loses eVTOL Demonstrator, USCG Getting New Helos, Freighter Fleet To Grow, US Army Falls Behind Lockheed Martin Skunk Works, in partnership with NASA, successfully comple>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC