Columbia Sportswear Technology Helping Protect Upcoming Moon Lander Mission

You may be acquainted with Columbia Sportswear’s patented shiny foil material used as insulation in their jackets and its resemblance to the space blankets NASA has long used to keep astronauts warm in space.

Columbia drew inspiration for their patented material from NASA back in 2010. They improved on the idea of reflecting heat to improve insulation, iterated on the original design and have since incorporated it into their apparel. These improvements have in turn been recognized by Intuitive Machines who are sending a lunar lander equipped with the material to the Moon’s Mons Mouton region in coming days.

Columbia’s materials will be utilized to protect parts of a lunar lander from the extremes of space temperatures that range between -250 Fahrenheit to 250 Fahrenheit. The lunar lander is scheduled to launch in coming days. Columbia Sportswear plans to throw a landing party if the mission is successful. Here’s a quick video detailing their involvement in the mission:

About The Mission:

Columbia’s award-winning technology is going back to the Moon. In 2024, Intuitive Machines sent the IM-1 Odysseus lander to the Moon for the first visit of a U.S. spacecraft in more than 50 years with our Omni-Heat™ Infinity technology aboard. Now the IM-2 Athena lunar lander will continue to push the boundaries of exploration with our Omni-Shade™ Sun Deflector and Omni-Heat™ Infinity techs helping to protect vital systems against extreme conditions in space.

As part of NASA’s Artemis campaign lunar exploration efforts, the IM-2 mission will help to continue laying the foundation for a sustainable human presence on the Moon. More broadly, it is an ambitious scientific quest fueled by a desire to fully understand our solar system and gain knowledge to help progress humanity.  

For Columbia, it is an unparalleled opportunity for exploration and discovery, paving the way for advancements in technologies and materials innovations that will enhance our products and ultimately the lives of our customers.

Omni-Shade™ Sun Deflector

ADVANCED SUN DEFLECTION
Omni-Shade™ Sun Deflector is a revolutionary approach to sun protection with reflective dots deflecting sunlight away from the body while Omni-Shade™ fabric blocks harmful UV rays without sacrificing breathability.

FEATURES

First-of-its-kind sun protection technology
Deflects sunlight so you feel cooler
Blocks damaging UVA and UVB rays
Breathable, sweat-wicking fabric

BEST FOR: Protection against prolonged exposure to direct sunlight

WEIGHT: Lightweight

PROTECTION TYPE: Sun-Deflecting up to UPF 50

BREATHABILITY: Moderate to High Breathability

Omni-Heat™ Infinity

THE GOLD STANDARD IN WARMTH
Omni-Heat™ Infinity is the next evolution of thermal-reflective warmth with an expanded pattern of gold dots that reflects more of your body heat delivering instant warmth without compromising breathability.

FEATURES