Edgar Mitchell's flown heel restraints that were carried into lunar orbit during the Apollo 14 mission. To prevent injury, Mitchell used these heel restraints to secure his feet in place during the violent early stages of the mission’s Saturn V launch on January 31, 1971. The restraints are made of very lightweight metal plates, both 3″ x 4″ x .75″, and heavy-duty brown stirrup straps with Velcro closures, both featuring sewn-on parts labels: “Heel Restraint L.H., BW-1053-001, S/N: 1142, Date of Mfg: 8/21/69, Mfg. by: B. Welson Co.” and “Heel Restraint R.H., BW-1053-002, S/N: 1140, Date of Mfg: 8/21/69, Mfg. by: B. Welson Co.” In fine condition. Accompanied by a detailed letter of provenance signed by Mitchell, in part: "This document certifies that the accompanying set of heel restraints were flown into lunar orbit aboard Kittyhawk on the Apollo 14 mission, which launched from Cape Kennedy on January 31, 1971." In fine condition.
These heel restraints locked the astronauts' feet in place for safety during liftoff of the Saturn V rocket from Earth. If the astronauts were not tightly restrained in their couches during the launch phase, the violent motion induced from extreme acceleration could result in injury. As an important piece of safety equipment used during the mission that followed the near-disastrous Apollo 13, this pair of restraints is an extraordinary artifact of manned spaceflight.
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