posted 02-20-2010 09:58 PM               

Space underpants sell, won't smell

After being tested in flight by Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata while he resided onboard the International Space Station last year, sales began in Japan on February 20 of a new high-tech set of underwear developed to withstand the challenges of long-duration (read: two months) spaceflight. The "J-Ware" boxers were devised by textile experts at Japan Women's University in Tokyo to forego having to be washed (there's no laundromat in space) and still remain odor-free (for the sake of the crew) given their ability to kill bacteria, absorb water, insulate the body and dry quickly. The retail offer is limited for now to just 100 pairs each of sizes medium and large with a price tag per pair of 10,500 yen or about $115.

Koichi Wakata models J-Ware socks. Credit: NASA. Inset: J-Space/JAXA

The J-Ware space underwear is being offered through the J-Space webshop.

"I wore it for about a month and my station crewmembers never complained for that month, so I think the experiment went fine."

Development of clothing for astronauts aboard spacecraft

This research is run by the "Near-Future Space-Living Unit" group led by Prof. Yoshiko Taya of Japan Women's University.

The goal of this research group is to develop crew cabin clothing that meets the safety requirements for spaceflight, and that ensures the following functions:

• Thermal comfort
  
• Cleanliness
  
• Mobility
  
• Beautiful clothing contour
  
• Lightweight and compact design

The group developed clothing materials with the following properties required for crew cabin clothing:

• Heat insulation
  
• Water-absorption
  
• Quick evaporation
  
• Antibacterial
  
• Odor elimination
  
• Antistatic
  
• Antifouling
  
• Soft and comfortable to skin

Non-sewing technology has given the clothing softness and wearable comfort. Cutting technology has improved the way the clothing fits and moves as the crew works in space.

The group also developed a hook and loop fastener with fire retardant properties and fabricated with soft touch materials.