Japanese scientists and one astronaut are making a new kind of odor-free history.
J-Ware clothing, which was created by textile experts at the Women’s University in Tokyo, may transform the chore of changing one’s underwear into a thing of the past.
Koichi Wakata, the first Japanese astronaut to live on the International Space Station, is now involved in a project that has more to do with personal hygiene than outer space exploration, as he is currently the tester for a new line of stink-free underwear called J-Ware.
“He can wear his trunks (underwear) more than a week. The other astronauts become very sweaty, but he doesn’t have any sweat. He didn’t need to hang his clothes to dry,” said Koji Yanagawa, an official with the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency.
The underwear, which was developed by researcher Yoshiko Taya, is very versatile. It is designed to kill bacteria, absorb water, insulate the body and dry quickly. Believe it or not, they are also flame-resistant and anti-static, not to mention comfortable and stylish.
It is expected that J-Ware will greatly reduce the amount of clothing sent to the space station, which has no laundry facilities. Having clothes that can stay fresh for weeks at a time is expected to reduce expenditures significantly.
The Japanese space agency plans to make the line of stink-free underwear available to NASA and its other space station partners once development is complete.
“Nobody has complained, so I think it’s so far, so good,” said the non-smelling tester himself.
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