Man who helped astronauts float, fly and survive, dies at 101

Washington

JOSEPH Schmitt, who helped develop the spacesuits worn by the US's first astronauts, and who helped secure the straps, boots and helmets of John Glenn, Neil Armstrong and other astronauts just before their history-making flights, died last month at a nursing home in Friendswood, Texas. He was 101.

A granddaughter, Susan Alexander, confirmed his Sept 25 death but she did not know the specific cause.