The unmistakable white fabric roof found on many sports stadiums is a material originally invented for use in Apollo spacesuits. Structures made from this moisture-resistant fiberglass material — stronger than steel but weighing only five ounces per square foot — are energy efficient, immune to pollutants and ultraviolet rays, and are translucent enough for natural-grass playing fields.
Following the terrible Apollo 1 tragedy, in which a fire in the command module killed the crew during a test exercise, NASA made a thorough reexamination of the program's safety measures. Among other things, the agency looked for a new spacesuit material that would be tough, strong, and nonflammable. Working with industry, NASA eventually selected a Teflon-coated fiberglass that became the basis for spacesuits used throughout the Apollo missions.