Adidas Enlisted Astronauts for Sneaker Research

Late Friday evening, SpaceX sent its 20th resupply capsule up to the International Space Station (ISS). The mission had an unexpected stowaway: a science kit from Adidas.

The details: Adidas sent plastic pellets used in the midsoles of its BOOST sneakers to the ISS as part of a cosmic R&D initiative. Astronauts on board the ISS will blast the Adidas pellets into a sole mold to observe how the pellets coalesce in microgravity.

The setup’s involved, but we can all appreciate the endgame. The experiment should teach Adidas how to craft more comfortable sneaker midsoles, the company says.

Did Adidas need astronauts for this? Actually, yes. Microgravity conditions give companies a 360-degree understanding of the materials they use for manufacturing—and it’s a little more difficult to find those conditions on the ground. Of the 200+ research projects the ISS has hosted, at least 50 have come from commercial companies like Adidas.

Back on Earth...what goes up must come down as a marketing moment. Adidas is selling “Space Race” sneakers on its website to celebrate the experiment.