PLSS Artifacts

The bulky Portable Life Support Systems (PLSS) worn by the Apollo moonwalkers during their EVAs were left behind on the lunar surface at the end of the missions but some astronauts were able to bring back souvenirs from these iconic features of the moon landings.

The iconic backpacks worn by the Apollo astronauts on their moonwalks consisted of a PLSS (Portable Life Support System) topped by an OPS (Oxygen Purge System).

They were enclosed in protective white beta cloth covers with name tags, mission insignia and US flag patches sewn onto them.

On the moon landing missions these PLSS and OPS units were jettisonned after the final EVA on the surface and on Apollo 13 they were left behind in the Lunar Module but some astronauts managed to take souvenirs from the units before they were lost.

On Apollo 13, Lovell and Haise used their surgical scissors to cut away parts of the PLSS and OPS beta cloth covers as souvenirs. A piece of Fred Haise's PLSS cover is shown on the right.

The PLSS units were attached to the astronauts' suits via shoulder and waist straps. The left and right waist straps, which clipped on to hooks on the space suit, were fully-detachable, and a number of astronauts saved these straps as mementos after their last EVA.

A few other PLSS-related items kept by the astronauts have also surfaced over the years, including dust plugs used to protect umbilical attachment points on the PLSS when not in use, and cables used to attach components of the PLSS. These are detailed in the annex sections below.