Learn about spacesuit makers’ history at museum

The Air Mobility Command Museum is going to repeat one of its most popular Hangar Flying presentations at 2 p.m., Sunday, Feb. 13. This will be an informative and free event for members and children under the age of 16. All other attendees are asked for a $5 donation.

Featured speaker Bill Ayrey of ILC Dover will reveal the fascinating story of how a little Delaware company became the world’s leader in spacesuit development. Ayrey will narrate a riveting review of what worked and what did not, and how it affected the space race.

This Kent County-based business has been making all of NASA’s spaces suits since the first manned Apollo mission back in 1967. ILC space suits now have a total of more than 1,600 hours protecting astronauts from the hazards of the space environment. This includes problem-free lunar spacewalks during the Apollo missions. Ayrey will provide information on the designs of space suits, including the past (Apollo), present (shuttle/space station) and the future (Constellation). Discussions will include why it is that one needs to wear a space suit as well as what materials are necessary to make the suit work in space.

ILC Dover manufactures made just about all of the manned airships flying around the world. When the Met Life blimp flies over a sporting event, the audience is looking at an ILC product. The air bags that safely landed the Mars Exploration Rover and Pathfinder vehicles onto the Martian surface were also designed and built at ILC Dover.

Ayrey has been with ILC for over 30 years and along with his primary job as test and calibration manager, he also acts as their company historian.

Access to the AMC Museum is from Delaware Route 9 just one-half mile from Exit 91 off Route 113 south of the base. Visitors can follow the AMC Museum signs for easy access. Museum hours are from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Call 302-677-5938 for more information.