Thursday, 18 May 2006 |
Shoe
manufacturing isn't generally considered rocket science but a new
sneaker by Japanese shoemaker, Asics, comes close. The shoe designed to
make space travel more comfortable and to help astronauts keep their
muscles from wasting in gravity-free outer space - is being developed
with the help of the Japanese space agency.
First samples of the sneaker, which weigh just 130 grams each, have a
super soft heel, a flexible sole that inclines upwards toward the toe
and a gap that divides the big toe from the others similar to
traditional Japanese socks (called tabi),
which are often worn with sandals.
Asics came up with the idea after a Russian cosmonaut complained that
conventional sports shoes hurt his feet in space. Given man has been
cruising the galaxies for more than 40 years, it makes one wonder why
no one came up with the idea sooner, though, I guess Captain Kirk and
Mr Spock looked comfy enough in their black leather mid-calf rocket
boots. These may not be as dapper as those, but the two-toed space
sneakers are pretty damn cool and developers say subsequent samples,
which will be tested in space in late 2007, will look even more
futuristic. by Rachel Wells.
|
SPACE SNEAKERS 
Delicious
Technorati
Digg
Stumble