Delaware’s lunar connection

The arrival of the new year often sparks an interest in new horizons, and while space adventures may literally be lightyears away, there’s more of a Delaware connection to the great beyond than many might realize.

A handful of Delaware craftswomen were essential to the historic moonwalks of Apollo space missions. Sewing for us here on earth wasn’t all they did. The women who sewed for International Latex Corporation (ILC) of Dover literally held the safety of the astronauts in their hands. After many trials and tests, ILC won the government contract to create spacesuits in the 1960s.

Previously, Playtex made women’s underwear as the commercial brand of ILC. This new venture in the ‘60s took on a very different magnitude of quality control. Engineers created the plans for the suits but relied heavily on the experience of the women to make a final product that would keep the astronauts alive when they stepped out of the craft. The enormity of the task did not escape the ILC staff making the suits, taking great care to preserve the integrity of the fabric while using needles to stitch the life-saving designs. 

According to interviews with the since-retired women, if a design was impossible to sew, the engineers would go in a different direction. The process was very collaborative and these women were respected for their knowledge of what could be sewn.

Many of the women learned their craft from previous generations handing down techniques and skills. When they began at ILC making women’s undergarments it probably didn’t seem like a gateway to the stars. But the magnitude of the project was put squarely in the hands of women. 

To learn more about ILC’s past and present, go to www.ilcdover.com.

Other notable space-related fun facts and resources:

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