Coverall garment for the Soviet Krechet-94 lunar excursion space suit, with a Velcro-secured neck opening, elastic arm holes, and openings in the front for the suit's valves and control panel. The back has a large open flap to accommodate the suit's life support backpack, an integrated system which allowed temperature regulation, pressurization, air collection and purification, and housed the radio and electrical apparatus. The light gray nylon coverall has orange stripes down the sides, and pockets on the front of each thigh. Includes a pair of zippered leather Krechet high boots intended for a moonwalking expedition: the right boot has a light gray suede lining, and the left boot has a smooth brown lining. In overall very good condition, with some scattered soiling to the coverall and boots, and creasing to the boots' leather.
The Krechet-94 suit began development in 1967, and was designed as both a microgravity suit as well as a lunar surface suit. The Soviet Union's dream of a lunar landing was never realized due to problems with the N1 rocket. After the fourth launch failure, their moon landing program was canceled in the 1970s as the 'Space Race' was lost to America. The Krechet suit and boots—which are far more traditional looking than the Americans' space-age A7L moonwalking boot—therefore stand as an interesting embodiment of 'what could have been.'
Provenance: The Spaceflight America Museum and Science Center in Prince Frederick, MD.
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