History for Dummies

Thanks to those great, hard working people at The US National Air and Space Museum I receive regular newsletters on how Neil Armstrong's spacesuit is proceeding through the restoration process and to which I have been proud to contribute through a crowdfunding initiative. Just follow these links to catch up; Simply click on each 

Part 1   and  Part 2

This is the latest update from #RebootTheSuit!

Thanks to your generous support, we've been busily getting ready to move into research and production of the mannequin that will support Neil Armstrong’s spacesuit while on display! As you might expect, we’re using state of the art technology to create the perfect mannequin for the suit.

What are the requirements for the mannequin?

The mannequin needs to be a figure that will be able to support the weight of the suit, will not push or pull against the fabrics of the suit, and will use techniques and materials that don’t interact with the suit and is able to last for decades to come.

Exhibits specialists at the National Air and Space Museum have been doing extensive research into 3D printed materials that could be used for functional components of the internal mannequin, which will provide support to Neil Armstrong’s spacesuit while on display. However, before a decision can be made on which material to begin using for prototypes, the Conservation team must evaluate the materials in order to make sure that they do not emit any harmful compounds that could put the suit at risk.

What’s the ”Oddy” test?

Because Neil Armstrong’s spacesuit is comprised of many different materials, it's important to know how they will be affected over time by the materials used in the display.

Conservators often turn to the “Oddy” test to evaluate the suitability of materials used for the storage and exhibition of museum artifacts. The “Oddy” test is an accelerated corrosion test developed at the British Museum by conservation scientist Andrew Oddy in 1973 and is still readily used today. It is a test that can help predict whether or not certain materials are safe to use inside an enclosed environment, such as a display case or storage box.

In such confined spaces, harmful emissions from display case materials, graphics, or even mount materials may become trapped and react with the materials comprising an artifact. Metals may corrode if enclosed with inappropriate materials, for example, and other non-metallic, inorganic artifacts such as glass or ceramics can suffer from the formation of damaging salts.

Organic materials as well as synthetics such as those used to create Armstrong’s spacesuit can react to these harmful vapors over time and the white outer fabric could become brittle or discolor.

How is an "Oddy" test done?

Seven different materials that are being considered for use in the mannequin system will be tested using the “Oddy” test. Each material will be sealed in an inert glass jar with a small amount of moisture and heated in an oven for 30 days. A small test coupon comprised of lead, copper and stainless steel will also be included in each jar. Each material will also be tested without a coupon for control purposes. The amount of corrosion that forms on the coupons is indicative of time, and can be used to evaluate the printing materials for use in display. While this method is not quantitative, it is used worldwide in museums and databases and can be used for comparative purposes.

Stay tuned for the results of our Oddy testing next month and much more on building the perfect mannequin for Armstrong’s suit!