National Space Centre Collections Online  >  2018-1

Buzz Aldrin's Constant Wear Garment

Whole Object Name

Buzz Aldrin's Constant Wear Garment

Collection

Apollo

Description

This Constant Wear Garment was worn by Buzz Aldrin during training for the historic Apollo 11 mission. It is identical to the one that he wore during his flight to the Moon in 1969.

The Apollo Constant Wear Garment (CWG) was worn underneath flightsuits and the spacesuits that the crew wore inside the Command Module. This one-piece underwear was designed to keep the wearer comfortable. It helped to absorb sweat, as well as to hold the biomedical instrumentation system in place. Medical staff in Mission Control needed to monitor the health of each crew member, so a biomedical belt with electrodes was worn by the astronauts to provide data on their condition.

The CWG was an essential piece of clothing for the Apollo missions, providing comfort and playing an important role in monitoring the crew. Holes in the CWG allowed the medical electrodes to fix to the skin, whilst openings in the groin and the rear allowed the astronauts to go to the toilet without having to take the whole garment off - although many preferred to take the CWG off for this delicate process.

Object number

2018-1
  • image Buzz Aldrin's Constant Wear Garment, worn during training
  • image Buzz Aldrin's Constant Wear Garment, worn during training
  • image A rare picture of an Apollo astronaut wearing only his Constant Wear Garment. Harrison Schmitt poses for a pic during Apollo 17 - Credit: NASA
  • image Buzz Aldrin's Constant Wear Garment label, showing that it was updated to the configuration used during Apollo 11
  • image Buzz Aldrin's Constant Wear nametag. In 1968 Aldrin was still using his first name, Edwin, before officially changing it to Buzz in the 1980s
  • image Buzz Aldrin's Constant Wear Garment, with name label and dosimeter pocket. Dosimeter pockets were positioned in the ankle, thigh, and chest areas - to give an accurate radiation reading for different body areas from throughout the mission
  • image Buzz Aldrin's Constant Wear Garment, dosimeter label. In this pocket a dosimeter was inserted, which measured the crew members exposure to radiation during the mission
  • image Buzz Aldrin's Constant Wear Garment, dosimeter label. In this pocket a dosimeter was inserted, which measured the crew members exposure to radiation during the mission
  • image Buzz Aldrin's Constant Wear Garment, dosimeter label. In this pocket a dosimeter was inserted, which measured the crew members exposure to radiation during the mission
  • image Buzz Aldrin's Constant Wear Garment, worn during training
  • image Buzz Aldrin's Constant Wear Garment, worn during training
  • image A rare picture of an Apollo astronaut wearing only his Constant Wear Garment. Harrison Schmitt poses for a pic during Apollo 17 - Credit: NASA
  • image Buzz Aldrin's Constant Wear Garment label, showing that it was updated to the configuration used during Apollo 11
  • image Buzz Aldrin's Constant Wear nametag. In 1968 Aldrin was still using his first name, Edwin, before officially changing it to Buzz in the 1980s
  • image Buzz Aldrin's Constant Wear Garment, with name label and dosimeter pocket. Dosimeter pockets were positioned in the ankle, thigh, and chest areas - to give an accurate radiation reading for different body areas from throughout the mission
  • image Buzz Aldrin's Constant Wear Garment, dosimeter label. In this pocket a dosimeter was inserted, which measured the crew members exposure to radiation during the mission
  • image Buzz Aldrin's Constant Wear Garment, dosimeter label. In this pocket a dosimeter was inserted, which measured the crew members exposure to radiation during the mission
  • image Buzz Aldrin's Constant Wear Garment, dosimeter label. In this pocket a dosimeter was inserted, which measured the crew members exposure to radiation during the mission

Web resources

More information

  • Object number

    2018-1

  • Location

    Artefact Store

  • Has this object been into space?

    No

  • Dimension - Dimension, Value, Measurement unit

    Length: 163cm
    Width: 75cm

  • Inscription Content - Content

    Label Text:
    Constant Wear Garment
    P/N SEB 13100061-208
    Size MR S/N 1228
    Date August 1968
    Contract No. NAS 9-7721
    Contractor Atlas Underwear Corp.

  • Inscription Content - Inscriber

    Atlas Underwear Corporation

  • Material

    Textile
    Cotton
    Elastic
    Plastic
    Polyester
    Copper alloy
    Chrome

  • Materials & techniques note

    Cotton knit garment, with plastic buttons, metal snap buttons, and openings for the medical biosensors to be pushed through

  • Object Production Date

    August 1968

  • Object Production Organisation

    Atlas Underwear Corporation

  • Object Production Place

    United States
    Ohio
    Piqua

  • Associated Event

    Apollo 11

  • Associated Organisation

    NASA

  • Associated Person

    Buzz Aldrin

  • Object Display Status

    Not on display

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