Lewes author pens story of Apollo space suits

The University Press of Florida recently released a new book titled “Lunar Outfitters: Making the Apollo Space Suit” by Lewes author Bill Ayrey.

This book tells the story of ILC Dover, located in Frederica, and the period during the 1960s and early ‘70s when the company was the prime contractor chosen by NASA to design and fabricate the Apollo space suits. ILC Industries, as it was named during the Apollo years, was an underdog in the contest to win the contract to build the iconic space suits worn by all the astronauts who walked on the moon. At a time when great technological strides were being achieved as a direct result of this nation’s quest to land a man on the moon and return him safely to Earth before the end of the 1960s, ILC Industries was making its suits using Singer industrial sewing machines operated by women who were the best in their trade.

ILC engineers faced constant challenges in the suit design process and were often making changes weeks before the critical launch dates of the Apollo missions. Each suit was made from 15 layers of materials and custom fitted to its specific wearer. X-rays of suits were (and still are) part of the testing process in order to make sure no pins were left behind during the sewing. Other details and stories, accompanied by photos and engineering design diagrams, add up to a fascinating read.

Ayrey retired from ILC Dover in 2019 after 41 years of service. Along with managing the facilities that still test space suits made by ILC today for support aboard the International Space Station, he represented ILC as its historian.

This book was reviewed by Apollo 11 Astronaut Mike Collins, who offered the following: “A space suit: a miniature space craft, so well designed for Apollo missions as described in this book. Excellent throughout, so comprehensive, so enjoyable.” Apollo 15 Astronaut Dave Scott said, “This is the story of the ultimate space suit for lunar explorers; a garment that evolved over many years of experiment and development; a garment that protected me five times during extravehicular excursions into the vast, unforgiving hazards of space exploration, including three days on the surface of the moon.”

The book is available through Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and should soon be offered by Browseabout Books in Rehoboth Beach.