This silent footage from NASA shows a mock-up of a platform, with test subject astronauts in prototype spacesuits (likely A4-Hs, see below) conducting equipment assembly and mobility experiments. Another film canister from the group it came was marked “OAP Metabolic Experiment.” It’s not 100% clear what the mock-up demonstrates but it probably is a full scale mock-up version of the Optical Astronomy Package aka OAP. The OAP was a modified version of the Goddard Experiment Package (designed to measure the ultraviolet spectral emittance of stars and nebulae) which could have been deployed on the lunar surface. As the reality of payload weight and space considerations took hold, large scale test items such as the OAP were discarded in favor of smaller experimental packages.

The spacesuits shown in use appear to be A4-H, created by Hamilton Standard and ILC Industries primarily for training in the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV) prototypes in 1965. Here you can see the full range of motion the suits permit — which included a fully seated position. For this reason the A4-H was known as a “mobility” suit. NASA accepted delivery of twelve A4-Hs, but the broad, conical shoulder joints would not fit into the Apollo Command Module. According to a technical page about the suit, they contained a secondary bladder and restraint with a wrist cuff/dam and were used circa 1963-1965.

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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com