Bill Ayrey
- Published in print:
- 2020
- Published Online:
- May 2021
- ISBN:
- 9780813066578
- eISBN:
- 9780813058849
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University Press of Florida
- DOI:
- 10.5744/florida/9780813066578.003.0005
- Subject:
- History, American History: 20th Century
ILC Industries wins the Apollo suit contract and is now the prime contractor responsible for delivering the suit NASA needs to explore the lunar surface and provide other protection to the crews ...
More
ILC Industries wins the Apollo suit contract and is now the prime contractor responsible for delivering the suit NASA needs to explore the lunar surface and provide other protection to the crews traveling to and from the moon.Less
ILC Industries wins the Apollo suit contract and is now the prime contractor responsible for delivering the suit NASA needs to explore the lunar surface and provide other protection to the crews traveling to and from the moon.
Bill Ayrey
- Published in print:
- 2020
- Published Online:
- May 2021
- ISBN:
- 9780813066578
- eISBN:
- 9780813058849
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University Press of Florida
- DOI:
- 10.5744/florida/9780813066578.003.0010
- Subject:
- History, American History: 20th Century
This chapter provides an overview of how the Apollo program came to an end, the end of the space race, and how both affected ILC Industries.
This chapter provides an overview of how the Apollo program came to an end, the end of the space race, and how both affected ILC Industries.
Bill Ayrey
- Published in print:
- 2020
- Published Online:
- May 2021
- ISBN:
- 9780813066578
- eISBN:
- 9780813058849
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University Press of Florida
- DOI:
- 10.5744/florida/9780813066578.003.0001
- Subject:
- History, American History: 20th Century
The story of the ILC Industries space suit has its roots in the early 1950s, when a small group of “hard-knockers,” as they would call themselves, began developing pressure suits to protect humans in ...
More
The story of the ILC Industries space suit has its roots in the early 1950s, when a small group of “hard-knockers,” as they would call themselves, began developing pressure suits to protect humans in space. The company was better known for making commercial products such as bras and girdles through a closely tied parent division named Playtex. The ILC’s work on pressure suits followed the success their small division had had with developing and manufacturing pressure helmets such as the model MA-2 for the U.S. Air Force. Post–World War II jet aircraft were flying at higher altitudes and the demand for crew protection had increased. While the air force gave ILC an opportunity to develop the first pressure suits, those early contracts were just an excuse for ILC to get their “space suit” recognized by industry.Less
The story of the ILC Industries space suit has its roots in the early 1950s, when a small group of “hard-knockers,” as they would call themselves, began developing pressure suits to protect humans in space. The company was better known for making commercial products such as bras and girdles through a closely tied parent division named Playtex. The ILC’s work on pressure suits followed the success their small division had had with developing and manufacturing pressure helmets such as the model MA-2 for the U.S. Air Force. Post–World War II jet aircraft were flying at higher altitudes and the demand for crew protection had increased. While the air force gave ILC an opportunity to develop the first pressure suits, those early contracts were just an excuse for ILC to get their “space suit” recognized by industry.
Bill Ayrey
- Published in print:
- 2020
- Published Online:
- May 2021
- ISBN:
- 9780813066578
- eISBN:
- 9780813058849
- Item type:
- chapter
- Publisher:
- University Press of Florida
- DOI:
- 10.5744/florida/9780813066578.003.0006
- Subject:
- History, American History: 20th Century
ILC Industries develops the model A-6L suit intended to be the first flight version to support the Apollo missions. The Nomex outer cover layer is designed with the expectation that it would provide ...
More
ILC Industries develops the model A-6L suit intended to be the first flight version to support the Apollo missions. The Nomex outer cover layer is designed with the expectation that it would provide all the protection necessary for the Apollo crews.Less
ILC Industries develops the model A-6L suit intended to be the first flight version to support the Apollo missions. The Nomex outer cover layer is designed with the expectation that it would provide all the protection necessary for the Apollo crews.
Bill Ayrey
- Published in print:
- 2020
- Published Online:
- May 2021
- ISBN:
- 9780813066578
- eISBN:
- 9780813058849
- Item type:
- book
- Publisher:
- University Press of Florida
- DOI:
- 10.5744/florida/9780813066578.001.0001
- Subject:
- History, American History: 20th Century
Lunar Outfitters chronicles the history of the Apollo space suit and how it was developed and produced. It focuses on the employees of ILC Industries, the maker of these lunar suits, and highlights ...
More
Lunar Outfitters chronicles the history of the Apollo space suit and how it was developed and produced. It focuses on the employees of ILC Industries, the maker of these lunar suits, and highlights the first engineer who saw the need for such a suit and those who came along later to advance the suit and make it the best space suit in the industry. Details and stories in the text describe many hurdles, such as the challenges this relatively small company faced in convincing NASA they were capable of fulfilling the contract. Later chapters provide technical details of the various Apollo model suits and how they were assembled, including the materials used.Less
Lunar Outfitters chronicles the history of the Apollo space suit and how it was developed and produced. It focuses on the employees of ILC Industries, the maker of these lunar suits, and highlights the first engineer who saw the need for such a suit and those who came along later to advance the suit and make it the best space suit in the industry. Details and stories in the text describe many hurdles, such as the challenges this relatively small company faced in convincing NASA they were capable of fulfilling the contract. Later chapters provide technical details of the various Apollo model suits and how they were assembled, including the materials used.
