When people think about the Moon landing, they think of NASA, rockets and astronauts — not a South African adhesive. But that's what makes the story worth telling: an invention doesn't have to be the headline technology to become part of history. It just has to solve a problem reliably enough that someone, somewhere, decides it's the material needed for the job.
Source: South African Government
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Pratley's Putty originally developed?
It was designed to anchor electrical terminals inside a junction box, developed by Pratley together with a chemist in the early 1960s.
Is Pratley's Putty still made in South Africa today?
Yes — it remains a South African-manufactured product, now sold internationally as a general-purpose epoxy adhesive.
Was it used elsewhere in the Apollo programme?
South African government records note its role in the Apollo XI mission specifically, reflecting its reputation for reliability in demanding applications.