Training boot for the Apollo A7L space suit presented by Charles Conrad to Apollo test astronaut Charlie Dry, designed by ILC Dover, measuring approximately 13″ tall, 5″ wide, and 12″ from toe to heel, with affixed parts tag to back upper portion, "Part No. A7L-201128-01, S/N 059, Code Ident 74897." The boot consists of an outer ITMG (Integrated Thermal Micrometeoroid Garment) layer that goes over the blue restraint boot, both of which feature regular non-sealing zippers. In addition to Velcro, the A7L boots used loop tape and lacing cord to secure the boot restraint layer to the leg restraint layer. The inside of the restraint layer bears ink notations, "A7L-047 120D" and "S/N" 092," and the inside of the ITMG layer bears an affixed parts tag, which has been crossed over in red felt tip, "Non Hazardous Use, Class III," with the tag reading: "Item I/TMG Boot Assy. Left, Part No. A7L-201128-01, CEI No. 2001A, Size 120D, Serial No. 059, Date 12/68, Contract No. NAS 9-6100 (NASA), Code Ident 74897, ILC industries Inc." The silicone rubber sole features the original Velcro retention pads and metal plate. Includes a 13.75 x 15.25 x 8.75 glass display case with open back. In very good to fine condition, with expected wear from use and storage, including: a worn hole to upper portion and some scattered stains. From the personal collection of Charlie Dry, a former Apollo test astronaut and research engineer and senior scientific analyst at NASA, who includes a brief letter of provenance: "The A7L moon training boot was given to me following an ALSEP training mission by Astronaut Pete Conrad, Commander of Apollo 12, second mission to land on the moon in the Oceanus Procellarum region on November 19, 1969." Worn by NASA astronauts for Project Apollo, the three manned Skylab flights, and the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project between 1968 and the close of the Apollo program in 1975, the A7L suit was the seventh Apollo space suit designed and built by ILC Dover. The A7L suit followed up on the initial designs of the A5L and the A6L suits, which introduced the integrated thermal and micrometeroid cover layer. After the deadly Apollo 1 fire, the suit was upgraded to be fire-resistant and was then given the designation of A7L. An amazingly early piece of equipment relating to the remarkable Apollo A7L training space suit.
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