Space Technology in Your Livingroom

On October 18, NASA passed a major milestone with the All Woman Spacewalk at the International Space Station. During the 7-hour, 17-minute spacewalk, astronauts Christina Koch and Jessica Meir replaced a failed power controller and completed other tasks for future spacewalks. While astronauts like Koch and Meir are working on complicated, detailed tasks 200 miles above the earth, it’s important to make sure that the air they’re breathing is clean and safe. Serionix, an Illinois Ventures portfolio company, is working with NASA to create products that filter vehicle and spacesuit air, keeping astronauts safe and healthy.

Serionix creates high-performance filters based on a proprietary adsorptive coating technology called Colorfil™, which changes colors as it removes toxic chemicals and odors from the air while killing viruses, bacteria, and mold. Through an intuitive, vibrant color change, Colorfil™ lets users know when the filters are working and when they aren’t. The same NASA-backed research on new spacesuit technology could also improve air quality in the homes of pet owners, as well as keep cars smelling fresh and filter contaminants out of the air in microchip manufacturing facilities. 

To learn more about Serionix’s work with NASA, click here.