David Vetter's Spacesuit
Space race advances in technology benefited David Vetter throughout his short life. In fact, NASA engineers had built the isolators that kept the young boy's environment germ-free. Then, in 1977, NASA made the five-year-old a custom-made, $50,000 spacesuit. The Mobile Biological Isolation System, which came with a 54-page user's manual, would allow Vetter to leave his plastic bubble for the first time.
-
David's mother, a NASA technician, Dr. Wilson, and David's father examine the system that will allow him to leave his bubble safely.
Credit: Baylor College of Medicine Archives -
David learns about the NASA suit with his parents and hospital staff. Each time he uses his suit, helpers must complete a 24-step pre-excursion hookup and a 28-step suit donning procedure to keep his environment sterile.
Credit: Baylor College of Medicine Archives -
David and his mother inspect the suit. David learns that he must carefully crawl through a tunnel from his isolator to the suit each time he wears it to keep outside air from getting inside the suit.
Credit: Baylor College of Medicine Archives -
Psychologist Mary Murphy and a NASA helper fit David in his suit.
Credit: Baylor College of Medicine Archives -
For the first time, David's mother can hold her son in her arms.
Credit: Baylor College of Medicine Archives -
David's father and Dr. Mary Ann South of David's medical team attend to the yellow hoses that provide the suit with filtered air.
Credit: NASA Johnson Space Center -
David's mother, his sister Katherine, and psychologist Mary Murphy look on as David takes some of his first steps in the suit.
Credit: Baylor College of Medicine Archives -
David visits another boy in the hospital during one of his first walks. Helpers must be careful about where David travels because of the suit's strict requirements regarding environmental conditions.
Credit: Baylor College of Medicine Archives -
David investigates a sink as he takes his first walk.
Credit: Baylor College of Medicine Archives -
David holds hands with his sister and a friend as he walks outside. Helpers push the attached transporter unit behind him.
Credit: Baylor College of Medicine Archives -
David's mother shows him how to throw a Frisbee. When he takes outings beyond the hospital or his home, David must follow strict transport rules.
Credit: Baylor College of Medicine Archives -
David helps a neighbor water the lawn as his father pushes the battery operated transporter unit behind him. After David returns to his isolator, the suit and associated items are cleaned.
Credit: Baylor College of Medicine Archives
