KCSC No. 1241: In-Flight Jacket Assembly
Place of Origin: USA
Date of Origin: May 1972
Dimensions: 25"L x 20"W
Karol Bobko wore this jacket during the SMEAT mission, which took place between July 26 and September 20, 1972. While SMEAT sounds like a brand of canned, processed meat, it was actually a ground test of the medical experiments to be used on board the upcoming Skylab missions.
The test was essentially a Skylab mission, except it took place inside an altitude chamber at the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, Texas. Astronauts Robert Crippen and Dr. William Thronton joined Bobko inside the chamber during this 56-day test.
Charles M. Schulz designed the mission patch you see on the jacket. The astronauts originally wanted Schulz to draw a fishhook in Snoopy's mouth to symbolize the earthbound nature of the mission. Schulz didn't like that idea, but compromised by showing Snoopy with a rope tied around his neck. He clearly looks like a beagle that wants to fly free.
Bobko, Crippen and Thornton were not tied to the ground for long. They all later flew on various Space Shuttle flights. Rumor has it, Snoopy got free of the rope and still flies his doghouse on occasion. |
