Friday, June 20, 2008

NASA Apollo Astronaut by Dragon

Briefly covered before but deserves a second viewing. This was after I found the box he came in which was stashed away but re-surfaced thanks to the BIG move!! Dragon produced this beautiful piece of art (the details on this piece are truly amazing and it didn't cost an arm and a leg then either) after visiting NASA and taking pictures of the actual suit.

It started with Project MERCURY - seven brave men in shiny "Buck Rogers" suits flew into space, proving that they had the "right stuff" (made into a film in 1983 "The Right Stuff" starring Sam Shepard as Chuck Yeager, Scott Glenn as Alan Shepard, Ed Harris as John Glenn, Dennis Quaid as Gordon Cooper, Fred Ward as Gus Grissom, among others); followed by the GEMINI Program and APOLLO.

Dragon's Apollo Astronaut came with a "Tranquility Base" which was supposedly accurately textured and coloured to look like the real lunar surface. There have been conspiracy theories that claim some or all elements of the Apollo Moon landings were faked by NASA and possibly members of other involved organisations. The fact is, because of the space program, advancements in technology have been made possible and we are all living better lives from it.

I digress, the moon base is very nice and even comes with the American flag.

Dragon's Apollo Astronaut on moon base



Launched on 16 July 1969, the Apollo 11 mission which comprised Commander Neil Alden Armstrong, Command Module Pilot Michael Collins and Lunar Module Pilot Edwin Eugene 'Buzz' Aldrin, Jr was the first manned mission to land on the Moon. On 20 July 1969, Armstrong and Aldrin became the first humans on the Moon, while Collins orbited above.

"That's one small step for (a) man, one giant leap for mankind." Planting of the American flag on the moon.


Portable Life Support System (PLSS)

Man on the Moon

Remote Control Unit (RCU) for easy access to necessary life support, communications and power systems.

Lunar Extravehicular Visor Assembly (LEVR) featured a wraparound fabric thermal cover with outer "sun visor" of gold-tinted high temperature polysulfone plastic for additional UV/IR protection.

It also had track-mounted sideshade panels for eye protection

The layered visor system with inner protective visor and pressure sealing neck ring

Pressure Garment Assembly (PGA) with connectors for oxygen IN, CO2 OUT as well as water IN/OUT and EV gloves.

EV Boots worn over the Pressure Boot

Overall, a very nice piece and IMHO, the ultimate astronaut figure.
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4 comments:

  1. peponecDecember 11, 2009 at 8:30 AM

    From Argentína, wow wow wow wow, exelénte hombre (men), this "product" here-in Arg.-are allredy...U$S 150.00-,(U$S1.00-$3,90), (Sorry for my english), and good luck.

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  2. alex teoDecember 11, 2009 at 8:47 AM

    thanks peponec :)

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  3. MoonManMikeOctober 25, 2010 at 2:24 AM

    This is indeed a great figure.
    The only thing I would say is that anyone displaying it needs to make the figure lean forward a little for realism.
    The life support system ('back pack') was a pretty weighty affair, although on the moon both weigh approx 1 sixth of what they would on the earth. The centre of gravity runs near the back of the astronaut, so they had to lean forward to counter balance the life support system. If you look at any side on view of the astronauts on the moon, the forward lean is very apparent!

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  4. alex teoOctober 25, 2010 at 7:28 AM

    thanks MoonManMike for that enlightening bit of information :) will take note and do so when taking pictures in future CHEERS

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