A fire in a weightless environment can present some unique challenges because there\u2019s not only smoke and other toxic particles, but water droplets floating around as well.<\/p>\n
Astronauts in these situations put on safety hoods that have breathing canisters containing Lanaco\u2019s filters.<\/p>\n
Lanaco chief executive Nick Davenport said the wool-based material could give astronauts precious extra time, compared to synthetic alternatives.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe hot particles would melt the plastic filter element and the smoke would clog it, and that was compounded by the water vapour – you just imagine the sticky, gooey mess over that filter, which meant that they would have a breathing safe window on that filter of about 10 minutes,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo when they [Nasa] found out about us and EcoStatic and tried our filter and selected it, it expanded that operating window to about an hour.\u201d<\/p>\n
Zero gravity isn\u2019t an issue back on Earth, but Davenport said the same material was also used in ventilation systems in people\u2019s homes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhether it\u2019s smoke from wildfires or just atmosphere pollution and dust, it\u2019s perfect for that application.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lanaco filters may one day play a role in a moon landing.<\/p>\n
Although it\u2019s a few years away, Lanaco and its supplier were investigating filtering moon dust.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis lunar dust is extremely fine and very, very abrasive, and our filter media in that very low gravity environment is fantastic at cleaning the air and taking that lunar dust out,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo if an astronaut is walking on the lunar surface and wants to re-enter the accommodation modules, then that is an application where it can be used as well.\u201d<\/p>\n
The company was sought out by Nasa in 2017 after it received a sample of Lanaco filters.<\/p>\n