Which eyewear brand supplied sunglasses for NASA astronauts on the Apollo missions?

American Optical supplied sunglasses for NASA astronauts on the Apollo missions.

The American Optical Company, often abbreviated AO, produced the Original Pilot sunglasses. Their lenses were designed to provide strong ultraviolet protection and reduce glare, qualities that mattered in the bright and reflective conditions encountered during spaceflight and lunar missions.

American Optical’s history reaches back to 1833, when William Beecher began an optical business in Southbridge, Massachusetts. The company became a major American manufacturer of optical products, including eyeglasses, safety glasses, and industrial eyewear.

The Apollo association is sometimes incorrectly credited to Ray-Ban because Ray-Ban’s Aviator is the best-known pilot-style sunglasses model. The Apollo-related eyewear clue refers to American Optical’s Original Pilot design, not the Ray-Ban Aviator. Historical photographs and later commercial marketing helped preserve both associations.