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Apollo 17 Flown Emergency Drink Packet & Pouch

Apollo 17 Flown Emergency Drink Packet & Pouch

This drink pack and pouch was originally part of the contingency feeding system that was carried aboard Apollo 17 to be used in the event of an emergency. A pon tube would attach to this drink pack and then the blue feed port on the bubble helmet and would allow the astronauts to drink in the event of cabin depressurization.

Archive Id AP17-AFPE-1

DESCRIPTION

This emergency astronaut helmet drink packet and pouch was flown aboard Apollo 17 as part of the contingency feeding system. The system was designed to allow the astronauts to drink in the event of cabin depressurization, provided that they were in their pressurized suits. The fabric pouch contains a fruit-based drink packet bearing the serial number FBD 424. The pouch was designed with two zippers, one on either side. One zipper would open to allow the astronaut to change the drink within, and the other would open to allow for more maneuverability in doing so during depressurization. When the drink packet was inserted, the pouch would be zipped back up, ready for use. The zippers were required to be closed during use to stop the drink from rupturing due to backpressure from the astronaut's spacesuit.

When the pon tube was attached to the drink packet, the other side would connect to the blue feed port on the astronaut's bubble helmet, allowing the astronauts to drink. Under these conditions, only fluids, primarily fruit drinks, would be able to pass through the tube. This condition could last for up to 5 days.

The drink pack is zipped within the fabric pouch. The pouch bears white velcro and two zippers with blue and red colored ties. The fabric pouch is labelled "FOOD CONTAINER POUCH", "MFG. BY WHIRLPOOL CORP.", bears serial numbers P/N SEB13100131-302, S/N 4472, and two quality control stamps. Pack measures 49cm.

Only one contingency feeding system flew aboard each mission from Apollo 12 onwards through Apollo 17 (Apollo 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17). A contingency feeding system pon tube flew on Apollo 11, but not the complete assembly.

Authentication Information:

As documented in the stowage list, the drink pack and pouch came from the Apollo 17 contingency feeding system carried aboard the mission. The feeding system serial number reads P/N: SEB 39104484-301, S/N: 1006. The pack itself was also signed and inscribed by Mission Commander Gene Cernan. The inscription reads: "These three food packets flew on the last mission to the moon / Gene Cernan / Apollo XVII-CDR." Only one pon tube was contained within the same pack as the food packets, meaning that only one flew aboard the spacecraft.

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