Astronaut Training & Equipment Testing

Flagstaff, Arizona 1964

In June 1964, as part of the USGS effort to take part in astronaut training for the early manned exploration missions, Gordon Swann and Jerry Harbour borrowed a Gemini spacesuit from NASA to conduct training and testing exercises in Flagstaff. They arranged an agreement with the Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC) -- the USGS provided test subjects for MSC's metabolic studies, and MSC furnished the USGS with suits.

The first suited test held by the USGS Branch of Astrogeology (now the Astrogeology Research Program) took place at near Bonito Lava Flow (Sunset Crater, Flagstaff, Arizona) June 15 - 20, 1964. The only people who could fit in the Gemini suit were Gene Shoemaker, Jerry Harbor, and Gene Phillippi. Gene Shoemaker wore the suit for a short time, and Jerry and Gene Phillippi to play "astronaut" for the tests. Because the Gemini suite was designed for sitting, not standing, it was impossible to stand up straight while wearing it. Gene and Jerry could only wear it for fifteen or twenty minutes at a time before becoming exhausted.

While USGS' Bob Mathis took over 350 photographs, something went wrong and none of the photographs came out. Luckily Paul Long from the Museum of Northern Arizona was there to observe and take a few photographs. Ken Watson recorded audio on a tape recorder, and Hal Stephens (from the photo lab in Menlo Park) ran a film camera. Participants included: Gene Shoemaker, D.P. Elston, E.C. Morris, R.M Batson, Jarry Harbour, E.C. Phillippi, H.G. Stephens, R.F. Mathia, R.H. Barnett, Eric Bramsoe, H.J. Moore, and Kenneth Watson from the USGS; J.J. Rennilson from Jet Propulsion Laboratory; Bill Banks and Pat Gambudi from General Electrodynamics Corporation; and Willerie Beeson and Carl Huggins from NASA. Observing were: Carl Degen and Russ Mahan from the National Park Service; and Paul Long from the Museum of Northern Arizona.

The photographs in this Gallery were taken by Paul Long for the Museum of Northern Arizona during astronaut training exercises at Sunset Crater in Flagstaff, Arizona in 1964.