Yes, folks, this was a real, proposed moon suit during the early years of the space program. It actually makes sense. The hard torso shell would be easier to pressurize and could make the arms and legs more flexible. It was meant for a more ambitious moon rocket that would have room to store this suit. The kit included a booklet describing the history of the suit. This is a splendid kit from Monarch. I'm so happy the returned. As always, the molding is precise, and the detail is impressive. I enjoyed building this kit immensely. There's only one disappointment. The astronaut's torso is not complete. It's difficult to see from a reasonable display distance, but a close up inspection shows the shortfall. My joy of having Monarch back keeps me from deducting any points. A bit pricey, but I'm a 70-year-old space geek with a understanding wife.