What did the Apollo astronauts pack in those white suitcases they carried on the way to the ship at launch?

Question

Why did they pack a suitcase at all? They were just going into orbit for a few days.

Answer 1

this is a good question. i wonder about it too.
i wonder too on how they are supposed to do if their skin feel irrritating(itchy) after they put on the suit.

Answer 2

White Suitcases

Answer 3

Air Conditioning.

Those little white suitcases are aircondtioning units and oxygen supply units that connect to the otherwise air tight suit. They are needed because a space suit can weigh over 50 lbs on earth and just moving around creates heat.

"Between Apollos 7 and 14, the two astronauts who would perform the moonwalks, the Commander (CDR) and Lunar Module pilot (LMP), had Torso Limb Suit Assemblies (TSLA) with six life support connections, placed in two parallel rows at the chest and waist. The 4 lowest connectors were gas connectors, and the upper right connector was an electrical connector, and the upper left connector was a water connector...

The garment was made from thirteen layers of material which were (from inside to outside):rubber coated nylon, 5 layers of aluminized Mylar, 4 layers of nonwoven Dacron, 2 layers of aluminized Kapton film/Beta marquisette laminate, and Teflon coated Beta filament cloth. Additionally, the ITMG also used a patch of "Chromel-R" woven steel (the familiar silver-colored patch seen especially on the suits worn by the Apollo 11 crew) for abrasion protection from the Portable Life Support System (PLSS) backpack. Chromel-R was also used on the uppers of the lunar boots and on the EVA gloves. Finally, patches of Teflon were used for additional abrasion protection on the knees waist and shoulders of the ITMG. Starting with Apollo 13, a red band of Beta cloth was incorporated the commander's ITMG on each arm and leg, as well as red stripe the EVA visor assembly to easily distinguish the commander from the lunar module pilot on the lunar surface."

Answer 4

They are air conditioning and temporary life support modules. Once the astronauts seal the helmet on their suits they are cut off from their air supply. The suitcases circulate the air and "scrub" out the carbon dioxide that they exhale. Basically its a short term solution until they get hooked up to the life support system onboard the capsule.
I hope this helps. Good luck.

Answer 5

And in case you're wondering why they had to be sealed into their suits before they got on board - they had to breathe pure oxygen for some time so they would't get the bends. The atmosphere in the ship was pure oxygen at only about 3 psi. If they had just climbed in and taken off, it would have been like coming up too fast from a scuba dive. They had to "decompress", i.e., let the nitrogen in their blood dissipate first.

Answer 6

LOL
Those weren't suitcases. They were portable air conditioning units. Those suits were sealed, so they needed air pumped through into them. In the spacecraft it wasn't a problem. But on the ground it was.

Answer 7

It was an air supply. The case temporarily took the place of the backpack they wore on the Moon, because they were already sealed in the suits air tight.

Answer 8

Those are portable air conditioning units they carried so that they would have fresh air inside their suits between the suiting area and the connection to the spacecraft's ventilation system.

I know, TT, they should have been color coordinated, but not everybody has your flair for such things.

Answer 9

you need to consistently have a dream or 2 to hold onto. i've got confidence that's what retains a individual putting on even whilst on a lifeless end highway. i comprehend for it does and that i'm no longer on a lifeless end highway on the time. There are whether, many stumbling blocks and hurdles.

Answer 10

Those wern't suitcases, they were air conditoners. Have you got any idea how HOT those suits were in the Florida sun?