A NORTH Yorkshire fly fishing materials supplier is casting its services beyond its usual world-wide network of customers after receiving an order from NASA.

Although used to dealing with orders from the overseas customers, directos at Selby-based The Essential Fly were surprised to received a request from consultants at NASA.

The space specialist had turned to the North Yorkshire company to supply super strong fly tying thread Nano Silk for the launch of a space sail.

Measuring half the size of an American football field, the ultra-thin sail, is part of a NASA research team project, developing the Technology Demonstration Mission known as "In-Space Demonstration of a Mission-Capable Solar Sail" to prove the viability and value of the technology.

The space sail offers propellant-free transport, hovering and exploration capabilities by using the pressure of the sunlight.

Essential Fly managing director Andy Kitchener said: "As a company innovation is key for us and we do our best to keep on top of what our customers want and more.

"It is fair to say we weren't expecting a call from the consultants at NASA but it has been a great honour to be a part of such an exciting project."

After analysis, the NASA developers of the space sail regarded Nano Silk as the best material for the application as the thread is so strong it is incorporated into the Kevlar cords to provide positive identification for management of the cords during assembly of the spacecraft and will remain with it as it sails in space propelled by the sun’s rays.

The space sail developers told the Essential Fly team: "We chose your thread because it does not reduce the strength of the finished cord.

"Also, your thread, in different colours, solves the problem of determining which thread goes where during the stowing of the sail after manufacture so that the cords do not get tangled during deployment in space. This is very important and critical to the mission."