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I read that Neil Armstrong鈥檚 spacesuit from his moon landing is deteriorating. It was, apparently, made out of materials created for only short-term use. Why was this and what are these materials? How can the suit be preserved: the spacesuit of another Apollo astronaut, David Scott, is on display in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington DC. This suit looks pretty much intact, so was it made of different materials?

鈥� One simply can鈥檛 go to space without wearing a spacesuit. Even Laika (the first dog to orbit Earth) wore a bespoke suit. Her outfit never made it to a museum, although copies exist.

All used American spacesuits, including prototypes, spares and those stained with moon dust, are in the care of the Smithsonian Institution. Most are kept in storage, some are on loan for display. All are degrading; those on display are degrading faster, some of them at alarming rates.

My expertise is in maintaining environmental conditions suitable for museum storage and display. As a result, I have had the pleasure of helping to protect some of the many artefacts and spacesuits in the Smithsonian鈥檚 collection. This means I can answer at least some of the question asked above.

Spacesuits are made from the most effective materials for the job. Strength, weight, impermeability, flexibility and other variables are judged and balanced when a spacesuit is designed and produced. If it protects its wearer from the dangers of space, enables movement and is comfortable, it has done its job. Long-term viability is not likely to be a matter of concern: suits are made to withstand the severe rigours of space, not to survive the dangers of long-term museum display.

The body of a spacesuit is usually comprised of multiple layers of plastic-based cloth and barriers, often bonded or fused together. The rest of the suit is a combination of metals, plastics, wires, insulators, tubes, anchors, glues, gasketing, lubricants, paints and inks. Not only will many of these materials degrade spontaneously, but they may interact in unexpected ways over time. Heat and humidity changes will hasten their degradation, as will airborne pollutants and light. The effects of poor storage conditions may not become evident for years.

鈥淎ll old spacesuits are degrading, those on display are degrading faster, some of them at alarming rates鈥�

While not on display, the Smithsonian鈥檚 spacesuits are kept in the dark, under constant cool and dry conditions. When the suits are on display, efforts are made to protect them from light, dust and less-than-suitable environments. To this end, the new Milestones of Flight gallery in Washington DC鈥檚 National Air and Space Museum will incorporate positive pressure microclimate environmental control systems for any sensitive items, including spacesuits. Air-tight showcases will be supplied with a constant flow of scrubbed and humidified air by a microclimate generator. While this will not stop degradation, it will slow it.

Jerry Shiner Keepsafe Microclimate Systems Toronto, Canada

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This article appeared in print under the headline 鈥淯nsuitable suit鈥�