Columbia Sportswear-coated lunar lander expected to touchdown Thursday
0
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) -- The first American lunar landing in over 50 years is expected to happen today, and the spacecraft is carrying a piece of Oregon with it.
The spacecraft, a "Nova-C Lander" called "Odysseus" is in the moon's orbit and is expected to touch down around 1:24 p.m. Thursday.
To get the spacecraft that far though, it is using Oregon-based Columbia Sportswear's "Omni-Heat Infinity Fabric."
The fabric is being used to help insulate the outer surface of the lunar lander.
If it all goes according to plan, this will be the first time the U.S. has returned to the moon since 1972 when NASA closed out the Apollo program.