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In 2023, Orion, NASA's spacecraft, will take off with four astronauts on board and, hopefully, New Zealand wool technology.
Orion is designed to "take humans further than ever," according to NASA.
It is planned to head first to the Moon, then to Mars. But to take people into space, a lot of things are at stake, including astronaut survival systems.
It is here that Lanaco intervenes, a wool company based in Auckland and whose Otago sheep are bred for this purpose.
READ MORE:
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* NASA selects 12 new astronauts from 18,300 candidates
Its wool-based Helix air filter system is being tested by NASA for use in resuscitation systems during fires.
NASA / RAD SINYAK
NASA's Orion team is preparing the parachute test vehicle for a final fall test in September to qualify Orion parachutes for human flight.
The Helix filter could be used as a pre-filter layer for personal emergency equipment and cabin air systems, thus preventing the clogging of other filter layers by removing thick contaminants such as molten plastic.
NASA got wind of Lanaco after sending a technology scout to roam the world in search of suitable products to use on Orion.
Shaun Tan, Chief Technology Officer at Lanaco, said, "In the case of the Orion Life Support System, the Helix filter is tested for its particulate load capacity, breathability, flame resistance and ability to operate even when it is exposed to water extinguishers. "
PROVIDED
Lanaco has specially raised sheep in order to develop a high quality wool for its products.
The filter is currently used in protective equipment in industries such as construction and mining.
"The fight against fires in space represents a new challenge for our R & D team," Tan said.
Lanaco General Manager Nick Davenport said the electrostatic properties of wool captured small, harmful particles, while its protein structure captured harmful gases and toxins – and that it was resistant to bacteria and flames .
The wool used by Lanaco comes from a special breed sheep, Astino.
The recognition of NASA was a big problem, he said.
"Nasa is the oldest and largest research and development company in the world, it has just celebrated its 60th anniversary, and since 1972, man has not gone into space, in the deep space, beyond.And having their critical life support systems based on this technology is pretty much the best support we can have. "
PROVIDED
Lanaco's Helix filter is being tested by NASA for use in its life support systems for Orion missions.
Tan said that NASA was still in the trial phase.
"It really depends on how the product is made, so we're, I would say, early in the development of the product and they still have a few months left before they decide to put it in the spaceship, so it really depends on what will happen in the coming months. "
He believes that Lanaco "absolutely" has a good chance of being used.
"NASA could have easily reached 101 larger manufacturers than us, but they have come down to us, so we must have an offer that interests them at least."
Tan was waiting for them to know if NASA would use their product in the next six to nine months.
PROVIDED
Nick Davenport, CEO of Lanaco, explains that the electrostatic properties of wool capture small harmful particles, while its protein structure captures gases and harmful toxins. It resists bacteria and flames.
Davenport said that if Lanaco gets the contract, it would be "the biggest small contract we have ever".
Although the actual volume used by NASA is low, the endorsement of the agency will provide a level of comfort to all existing customers of our product, "he said.
"That's really the big result for us."
While they were excited about the use of their product by NASA, Tan and Davenport hoped that it would not really be necessary to use it.
It was "like a lifejacket under the seat of your plane," said Davenport.
You did not want to use it, but if you wanted it, you would like it to be of good quality.
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