The Science of Soccer in Space

Working with NASA to improve athletic equipment is nothing new to adidas. In 2014 scientists at NASA Ames supported their studies using soccer balls in wind tunnels and then in 2019, adidas took a giant leap by working with NASA to conduct experiments in the microgravity onboard the International Space Station ISS: adidas Launches Boost Shoe Technology to the ISS National Lab.

Now, adidas continues to experiment with soccer balls and shoe design on the ISS, and students can get involved by following work of Principle Investigator Dr. Henry Hanson, an engineer with adidas who is studying the spin and aerodynamic characteristics of soccer balls.

In 2022, adidas began including electronics in major tournament soccer balls. That additional mass had to be balanced statically and dynamically for best performance, so using the microgravity environment on board the International Space Station provided an excellent environment for attempting to create the world’s best ball.

Recently a series of adidas experiments and demonstrations were performed and recorded by astronaut Jessica Meir on the ISS and recorded. NASA then created a new STEMonstration video based on those experiments which is available as part of the OQ The Science of Soccer in Space mission.