Columbia Sportswear’s new Omni-Heat Infinity reflective technology will be incorporated into Intuitive Machines’ upcoming mission to the moon, according to a Dec. 9 media release from the Clear Lake aerospace company.
Selected by NASA to build and launch its Nova-C lunar lander, Intuitive Machines will embark on a mission in 2022 to return to the moon’s surface, the first time the United States has done so in 50 years. The company will become the first-ever private company to travel to the moon—cementing Houston as a powerful player in the rapidly expanding aerospace industry, Community Impact Newspaper previously reported.
In laboratory simulations leading up to the 2022 launch, Intuitive Machines researchers determined the gold metallic foil of Columbia’s Omni-Heat Infinity will provide insulation-related benefits for the lunar lander. The insulation will help to equip the lander against the extreme temperatures on the moon, per the release.
“Inspired by the reflective technology used by NASA, our Omni-Heat Infinity technology has been tested in many challenging environments on Earth, but the Moon represents a first for us,” said Joe Boyle, Columbia brand president, in the release. “We’re looking forward to collaborating with Intuitive Machines on their upcoming mission as we continue to push our technology to new heights.”
