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