posted 02-15-2024 01:00 AM               

Lunar lining: Columbia coat tech insulates Intuitive Machines moon lander

A technology used to protect the first astronauts to land on the moon is now on its way back to the lunar surface — and you may already have some of it hanging in your coat closet.

Intuitive Machines' Nova-C lunar lander "Odysseus" ("Odie" for short) will attempt to become the first U.S.-built commercial spacecraft to land on the moon when it tries for a touchdown near the lunar south pole on Feb. 22. The robotic probe, which lifted off Earth on Thursday (Feb. 15), will rely on its cryogenic propellant supply to power its descent to the surface. Protecting the propulsion tank from the extreme temperatures of outer space is an insulation based on what was first used by NASA's Apollo missions more than 50 years ago but has since been improved upon by Columbia Sportswear.

posted 02-19-2024 10:02 PM               

We brought the moon down to Earth here at Sphere Las Vegas to celebrate our lunar mission with Intuitive Machines while the Nova-C lunar lander is currently flying through space with our Omni-Heat Infinity technology helping to protect against extreme temperatures.