adidas announced its multi-year partnership with the International Space Station (ISS) U.S. National Laboratory, managed by the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space – CASIS, to explore the boundaries of product innovation, human performance and sustainability.
As part of adidas and ISS National Lab’s commitment to leading innovation within their respective fields, the partnership will pursue breakthroughs to improve future design and engineering for athletes on and off Earth.
The initial phase of the partnership focuses on product innovation, and with the support of the ISS National Lab and technologies developed by NASA, adidas will become the first brand to test footwear innovation in the extreme conditions of space. adidas’ coveted Boost technology is scheduled to be tested without the distraction of gravity – which could influence the performance and comfort of existing models and enhance innovation of new products.
adidas will send its signature Boost pellets and footwear to the ISS National Lab onboard a future SpaceX cargo mission, with testing to begin as early as 2020. Astronauts onboard the station will execute experiments without the distraction of Earth’s gravity to uncover whether it’s possible to produce Boost midsoles with regions of different particle sizes– something that scientists theorize could optimize footwear performance and comfort.
Check out a quick look at a few photos and video below, and stay tuned for more details to be revealed in the coming months.
