DuPont Launches National Sponsorship of Smithsonian
| Alan Shepard wore this A7-L extra-vehicular suit on the Apollo 14 mission in 1971. Soft and flexible, these suits could be removed after launch and stowed until it was time for the lunar walk. Photo by Mark Avino, Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum. |
“DuPont is proud to partner with the Smithsonian on this important national exhibition,” said Mark Vergnano, DuPont executive vice president. “It showcases the unprecedented collective efforts of hundreds of companies and agencies to protect lives in space, the net effect of which could only have been achieved when innovative science and collaboration were put to the service of an important goal.”
Twenty of the 21 layers of the Apollo moon suits either contained or were made entirely of science-based innovations developed by DuPont. A few of the innovative products that were used then, and continue to be used today, in space and on earth include:
- Nylon, neoprene coated nylon
- Nomex® fibers
- Mylar® polyester film
- Kapton® polyimide film
- Krytox® performance lubricants
DuPont’s sponsorship reflects the company’s commitment to protecting people and the environment through innovative protective apparel, building materials, safety training, and environmentally sensitive and sustainable solutions.
View a fact sheet about DuPont products that have played a critical role in the U.S. space program.
Learn more about Suited for Space.
| DuPont 1971 Print Ad of Apollo Astronaut James Irwin on the Moon. |
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