Hi-tech NASA sandals to collect data from space

Washington, May 30: NASA has sent a pair of sandals with tiny devices into space that will help scientists monitor the effects of low gravity on astronauts' bodies.

A crew of Russian, German and US astronauts docked with the International Space Station (ISS) brought with them some NASA-designed footwear called ForceShoes.

The shoes will help NASA collect data for studying the loads or force placed on crew member bodies during exercise on the space station's Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED).

"Although a number of portable load monitoring technologies (often referred to as force shoes) are under evaluation on earth, NASA selected to fly ForceShoes on the space station because it offers comprehensive load measures," the US space agency said in a statement.

The brown strap-on shoes with tiny monitoring devices will send data back to control centres on earth.

During the investigation, researchers will use the shoe to measure exercise loads and ground reaction forces. These are the forces supplied by the ground to a body in contact with it.

"Crew members will be asked to set the ARED to provide specific loads in the same way they would set loads on a weightlifting machine at the gym," the statement added.

IANS