John Young's Apollo space suit neck dam, measuring 10.25″ in diameter, consisting of a metal ring and rubber neck skirt, with the latter bearing an affixed name patch marked "Young." Includes nylon retaining cord and snap. In fine condition. Before an astronaut enters the water following a successful splashdown, the astronaut removes his helmet and dons the neck dam to make a seal around the suit neck ring and his neck. This prevents the suit from filling with water and traps gas within the suit torso to provide additional buoyancy. The neck dam was implemented following the flight of the Liberty Bell 7—Gus Grissom almost drowned when his space suit filled with North Atlantic seawater and nearly dragged him to the bottom of the ocean.
