Columbia has revealed a major step in its partnership with space exploration company Intuitive Machines, which is collaborating with Elon Musk’s SpaceX for a fast-approaching lunar mission. No later than February 26, IM-2 Athena is set to launch from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida clad with advanced fabrics developed with Columbia Sportswear.
The brand’s ultra-warm Omni-Heat Infinity, originally designed for its outerwear, and novel Omni-Shade Sun Deflector will protect and insulate the Athena lander on its journey to the moon, in which it will be exposed to extreme conditions. Once successfully landed, IM-2 aims to drill into the surface of the Moon’s south pole in a search for lunar ice.
In the official release, Vice President of Innovation at Columbia Sportswear Haskell Beckham said, “During the IM-1 mission, we demonstrated the insulative power and durability of our Omni-Heat Infinity technology to help protect the lander – the same insulation used in our winter jackets and gear. While we celebrated this historic moment, we knew it was just the first step in unlocking the true potential of Columbia’s patented innovations.”
Columbia’s Omni-Shade Sun Deflector, using a material originally developed to protect people from the sun’s strong heat, will be utilized on the multilayer insulation (MLI) blanket on top of the lander. The same technology is used by Columbia for warm-weather products, boasting reflective titanium dioxide dots that deflect the sun’s heat. Elsewhere the brand’s Omni-Heat Infinity tech will insulate the lander’s helium tank, safeguarding it from temperatures between +250° to -250° Fahrenheit.
To celebrate, the brand has released a Lunar Collection, highlighting designs that use the innovative technologies deployed for IM-2. See the gallery above for detailed images of the lander.
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