Thanks to a new agreement with the International Space Station U.S. National Laboratory, Adidas will soon be making products that are out of this world — or at least capable of surviving there.
As part of the multi-year partnership with the ISS, Adidas will begin testing some of its products in microgravity in order to see how a weightless environment “could influence the performance and comfort of existing models and enhance innovation of new products.”
The first products which Adidas sent up for testing at the ISS were soccer balls. Once the balls arrived at the ISS, they were tested in a series of experiments that provided information about spherical aerodynamics that the apparel company will use in the future when designing panel shape and texture.
“Working with the International Space Station U.S. National Laboratory and CASIS — one of the most advanced facilities in the world — will help Adidas set new standards in performance innovation,” said Adidas VP of global brand strategy James Carnes. “This partnership not only allows us to co-create improvements to sport performance but to explore processes and design that could be applicable to Adidas’ dedicated efforts in sustainability as well.”
Testing on Adidas footwear at the ISS National Lab will begin as early as 2020.
“It’s the big bang that marks the start of our modern-day space race to create a running shoe ahead of its time, one that will allow athletes to perform in their game at a level they never thought possible, adding to the narrative of their life,” according to the brand. “It’s been a little more than five years since we introduced the world to Boost, so imagine what we can achieve in the next five years working with organizations who prove that impossible is nothing, daily.”
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