Aerogel is an extremely lightweight and effective insulator first invented around 1930, but it was too fragile for any practical use until NASA partnered with a research and development firm to create a flexible, durable, easy-to-use version. The firm started a company to market the material, which many other companies now buy for incorporation into jackets, insoles, wraps, boots, and many other products.
Aerogel's low density, light weight, and unmatched thermal insulation performance piqued NASA's interest. Temperature management is important to an agency that manages the extreme temperatures in space and relies on cryogenic fuels. But the substance was extremely fragile, so in 1992, the senior investigator at a NASA cryogenics lab decided to pursue a sturdier form. With NASA funding, a research and development firm created the first aerogel blankets the following year.
Learn more about how NASA helped develop technology that impacts flexible aerogel within your home's bedroom environment!