Originating from the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC) in Houston, Texas—a flight seat used in training for the Space Shuttle program, approximately measuring 21" x 50" x 23", with many parts, including the entire base, the very same designed for use in an early flight seat. These flight-ready parts bear the following related stamped numbers: "1172-2253-001," "1172-2230-21, REV D DOC…31218…3-23-83," "1172-2230-1, 03953-GD2407," "1172-5014-1, 03953-GR3163," and "1172-6001-3, REV E DOC 25361, 31218 A33, 12-7-82." The original flight seat was equipped with motors and tracks that allow for up and down and forward and aft seating adjustments; this base assembly does not contain motors, but does feature tracks for elevating the seat, which can be done by hand. The headrest can also be raised by pulling a T-handle to release the headrest post and to lock it at various heights.
The seat, when acquired from JSC, required three modifications to return to user-ready status: two aluminum angles were added to the back to deter rotation; two aluminum box extrusions were added to join the seat to the base (this attachment demanded the drilling of four new holes); and a new padded headrest was 3D-printed from the original specifications. The seat's original armrests, backrest, and seat cover are included, and feature AMI Industries labels to underside, each of which are dated to 1982.
The unmodified seat base incorporates two large flight-ready machined aluminum brackets, which were added to the original seat design after the loss of the Space Shuttle Challenger in 1986. These allow the seat to be fixed a few inches farther back, while using the same flight deck floor mounting provisions; this was necessary due to the inclusion of a parachute pack that seated the astronaut a few inches forward. An impressive Space Shuttle artifact augmented by both its terrific display value and training-used pedigree.
