Who designed and built the Apollo program space suits?

You might have thought that the iconic space suits of the Apollo space program had been designed in house by NASA or by a company with a lot of experience in the aerospace industry. No: the space suits, in fact, were designed by none other than Playtex (then also known as the International Latex Company). During the latter half of the 20th century, they made bras, girdles and the like. Given their experience in making sturdy, multi-layered undergarments it should come as no surprise that when it came time to build a reliable space suit they won the bid. The skills required to fashion a quality girdle translated well to precisely stitching a flexible but sturdy spacesuit.

More Info: en.wikipedia.org

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26 Comments

Corey Taylor

A company that allows women to defy gravity designed the suits for men who went into space, where there is NO gravity. Do I alone see the irony here?

Paul D. Ford

Heard an audio piece on this subject on NPR or PRI. Fascinating. NASA originally scoffed at using the Playtex company, but they far outperformed their competition. They even had to re-submit their bid when NASA balked initially at the public perception of spacesuits manufactured by the "women's support" industry. They had audio of the seamstresses who had worked on the suits. They all took immense pride in their contribution to the space program.

elizawheeler

Thank you. 50/50.

Tom Knox

Great trivia question.

Wayne Jines

Wow, I can't believe I got it right! I thought it was just too crazy to be wrong.

Char

Deduction gave me the answer by logic. Playtex made so much

earlepg

This had to be something off the wall and far from svelte, so it had to be Playtex.

Janet Jones Newman

What a great trivia question!

Paulette Arnold

That was a surprise, but it is understandable.

Richard D. Boyle

A size 36C please!

Karen Mulhollem

makes sense to me!

Richard S. Levine

I remember making fun of Playtex when the suits were announced. "I dreamed I was way out front in my Playtex Bra". It's the Anniversary of Neil Armstrong's mission & Time just put out a great article on it & his suit.

dvdeaton

Was gonna go with Playtex; should have and I would have gotten it right... kinda like football players wearing panty hose under their uniforms to insulate heat...