Kuraray's Vectran liquid crystal polymer fiber is the hidden infrastructure of Mars exploration—it's the only material that survives the combination of extreme tensile strength, zero creep, chemical resistance, and Martian temperature extremes required to safely cushion rover landings. The same fiber that cocooned Spirit and Opportunity also appears in yacht rigging, deep-sea mooring lines, food-processing cut-resistant gloves, and surgical sutures.
Source: VECTRAN for Aerospace Application · Kuraray Co., Ltd. · Dec 31, 2022