Israeli Startup Aims for NASA-Led Space Program
Israeli startup Inhayle, founded in late 2023 by Itai Benartzi, Effy Shaarabany, and Dr. Israel Biran, is on a mission to bring its innovative air and surface purification technology to outer space. The Times of Israel reported that after winning the Expand space accelerator program earlier this month, the Tel Aviv-based company now has its sights set on NASA’s Artemis program for lunar and Mars exploration.
Multi-spectrum disinfection system
The startup’s multi-spectrum disinfection system, developed through extensive research by Shaarabany, generates ozone-free hydroxyl radicals to neutralize airborne contaminants like bacteria, mold, and viruses. Benartzi told The Times of Israel, “We are transforming indoor air quality with a system that mimics the natural outdoor air chemistry.”
“This is not another air purifier that sucks in indoor air and passes it through a filter and pushes clean air back into the room.Our disinfection system transforms the air composition in enclosed environments to resemble the earth’s natural atmosphere’s defense mechanisms to fight bacteria and pollutants accumulating on surfaces in real-time with people present,” Benartzi added.
Shaarabany’s work at Inhayle continued despite a personal tragedy; his daughter, Sivan, who planned to join the team, was tragically murdered when Hamas terrorists attacked participants at the Nova music festival. “We are developing while we cry, which is the story of many Israeli startups in these challenging times — it’s hard, but we move forward,” Benartzi explained.
Game changer for space habitats
Inhayle’s system has been tested in Israeli hospitals, achieving a disinfection rate of over 90 percent in the respiratory and nursery units. Benartzi shared that the company’s technology could be a game-changer for space habitats, where pollutants can accumulate due to the low presence of hydroxyl radicals. “This deficiency leaves enclosed spaces vulnerable to the buildup of pollutants,” he noted.
Inhayle was awarded an R&D grant from Expand’s panel of space tech experts, who praised the company’s alignment with the Artemis program’s goals. Lion David, vice president of ventures at Creation-Space, expressed confidence in the company’s dual market potential. “The Inhayle team is tackling real-world and space challenges with a solid solution,” he said, adding that the program’s rigorous standards boost investor confidence.
In the next 24 months, Inhayle seeks to raise seed funding to advance its space-ready systems and expand into the US market. Benartzi hopes that “about five years from now on, Inhayle will hopefully be a standard solution for any space vehicle going up,” setting a new benchmark for health and safety in space exploration.
