Gemini Space Suit - G5C Suits

G5C Suits

For the 14-day Gemini 7 mission, both Frank Borman and Jim Lovell wore modified G3C suits, but incorporating several changes:

• Replacement of the pressure helmet and neck ring with a zippered hood incorporating a clear, fixed polycarbonate visor, with the astronauts wearing modified Navy-style aviator crash helmets that incorporated the communication equipment (microphones and earphones).

• Additional zippers for in-flight adjustment, along with provisions for complete removal of the suit.

This configuration is the G5C suit. During the mission, Lovell was the first person to take his pressure suit off, which was achieved with great difficulty due to his size. Borman later was able to get his suit off and biomedical data collected during the flight revealed that astronauts would be more comfortable during the flight when wearing flight suits during "non-critical" phases of the mission. This led to the wearing of such flight suits from Apollo 7 to the present day. This suit somewhat resembles the current Soyuz Sokol pressure suits worn by Russian-launched ISS crews.