Vollebak aims for the stars again with NASA parachute jacket
UK-based outdoor brand Vollebak has created what it describes as “the most advanced piece of clothing”, built from NASA’s space parachutes and aerogel heat shields.
The outside of the Martian Aerogel Jacket is built from the same material as the hypersonic space parachutes that slowed the Perserverance Rover from 20,000kmph to just 320kmph in a matter of seconds during its landing on Mars.
Steve Tidball, Vollebak co-founder, said: “As for the parachute fabric that didn’t go to Mars? That came to us.”
The inside of the Martian Aerogel Jacket is made from a new type of laser-drilled aerogel built by the same team making the aerogel heat shield to protect the next Rover from temperatures of 2,000°C.
Mr Tidball added: “Aerogel is only three times more dense than air, but it’s almost impossible for cold air to pass through it as its individual nanopores are 10,000 times thinner than a human hair. And this is the first aerogel in the world that’s flexible, durable and waterproof. It can be totally compressed or soaked in water and still carry on insulating down at -20°C.”
With limited stock, the company is now accepting pre-orders for early December delivery.
