The Delaware Public Archives in Dover will honor the 45th anniversary of America’s moon landing with a program highlighting the space suit worn by Apollo 11 astronauts.
The Eagle Has Landed: The ILC Development of the Apollo Spacesuit will dig deep into the suit’s early development by the International Latex Corporation currently located in Frederica.
ILC Dover test lab manager and company historian Bill Ayrey will explain in detail the function of the suit and the role it played in the country’s race to the moon during the 1960’s.
He says ILC’s history with making pressure suits for the Air Force in the 50’s gave them a leg up on the evolution of their extravehicular space suit used for the first moon landing.
"They knew that they were going to be building a suit that NASA might one day need in space, so they were in a real prime position to bid - and ultimately win - on the Apollo spacesuit contract in 1962."
Ayrey will also delve into ILC's work over the years making spacesuits and other soft goods at their Dover and Frederica engineering and manufacturing facilities, as well as the company’s legacy.
ILC also won the contract to make suits for NASA’s shuttle missions in 1976, and its ability to work with soft goods like fabrics or films led to other work in pharmaceutical containment, airship design and infrastructure protection.
Tom Summers, outreach manager for the Archives, says ILC’s history is a big deal for the Small Wonder, and showcases a history of innovation in the state.
"Just look at the things that we’ve done here. Like with ILC, the things that they’ve done with the spacesuit that they created which enabled America to go to the moon. Without those innovations happening here in Delaware it just wouldn’t be possible," said Summers.
And thanks to this year’s 45th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, Summers is hoping to see some new faces at the Public Archives for the program.
Ayrey will host the free program at 10:30 am Saturday at the Delaware Public Archives building in downtown Dover.