What color were the Apollo 11 crew's space suits?

The Apollo 11 crew’s space suits were white. Their bulky lunar EVA suits used a bright outer layer designed to reflect sunlight and help control heat in the Moon’s harsh, airless environment.

Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin wore the suits while walking on the lunar surface, with portable life-support backpacks providing oxygen, cooling water circulation and communications. Michael Collins, who stayed aboard Columbia, also wore a white Apollo pressure suit during parts of the mission, although he did not use a lunar EVA suit on the surface.

The suits were not simple white clothing. Beneath the outer layers were pressure garments, thermal insulation and a liquid-cooling garment. The astronauts’ helmets had gold-coated visors that reduced glare and filtered dangerous ultraviolet and infrared radiation.

Photographs can make some parts appear gray or silver, especially the reflective visor, connectors and life-support equipment. Orange suits are associated with launch and reentry suits used on later spacecraft and should not be confused with the white Apollo lunar suits.