Adidas is starting a multi-year collaboration with the ISS, which will give it access to fundamentally new and unique opportunities.
The first phase of the partnership will focus on creating innovative solutions through microgravity testing of products. Earlier this year, Adidas already delivered several soccer balls to the ISS to conduct a series of experiments related to the behavior of objects outside the Earth.
Outer space is an ideal place for many unique experiments that are impossible in ordinary laboratories. So, without gravity distorting the shape and trajectory of the ball, and air resistance affecting the rotation of the ball, researchers can focus on other variables. It is expected that the obtained data will help Adidas in the creation of new balls, from other materials, with a different texture and shape.
The brand will be the first to have shoes tested in space. In particular, Adidas plans to test the Boost energy return technology used to create the soles of some sneaker models. The extreme conditions of space will allow answering a number of questions related to the production of such materials.
The company will also pay attention to human endurance, studying the conditions necessary to prepare for space flights. This will allow her to develop compression garments for muscle growth and recovery. Adidas also hopes to use the information received to help athletes better prepare, perform and recover.
Well, since the company positions itself as environmentally responsible, it will conduct experiments that will allow it to eventually develop new, safer production technologies. In conditions where every gram of a substance counts, Adidas hopes to come up with an approach that minimizes waste and allows for the reuse of a wide variety of materials.
