Both styles are manufactured using the same Hi-Shine leather which means the leather and general care for both styles is identical. To learn more about caring for your leather and footwear, read our shoe care tips here. Most live testing of the spacesuits and boots took place in environmental chambers, although a limited amount of testing ‘in the field’ did take place in the USA’s closest representation of the lunar surface – Arizona.

We're often asked what's the difference between our Solovair 11 Eye Astronaut boots vs the classic 11Eye Derby boot. We've compared the two popular styles below listing the similarities and variations.If you return an item for exchange, you will have to pay a repost fee, to have the replacement sent to you. The join design at the sides of the boots are varied. The Derby boot is a curved design, while the Astronaut is more angular. Adjusting the boots is likely to call for a ratchet and line closure system involving metal wire, as this does not require knots to be tied. Such a system would allow the boots to be loosened and tightened while the wearer is still in a pressurised suit, which will likely be quite restrictive in nature. Using metal wire as opposed to more traditional materials will cut down on ultraviolet (UV) degradation and improve resistance to wear.

The biggest difference between the suits is how they are donned. The EMU is a modular suit, with the torso, legs, arms and helmet all being separate pieces that connect together. This modular system permits a substantial variation in astronaut size, because longer or shorter arms and legs can be used. By contrast, the Russian Orlan is a single component. As a result, the acceptable size of a cosmonaut is more limited than for the US programme. Heading to Mars? Much of what is necessary for boots to be suitable for exploration on Mars is therefore similar to that required for the missions to the Moon. The sole of the boots will need to be quite stiff to accommodate any uneven ground that the astronauts will need to traverse. Having said that, there are additional types of terrain on Mars that were not found during the Apollo missions. For instance, while it is unlikely that the astronauts would be expected to climb, much of the Martian surface is mountainous, so specific equipment – such as crampons – could feasibly be required, and footwear for exploration may have to accommodate such accessories. There are currently three nations which have manned space programmes – the USA, Russia and China, although a number of other countries have announced plans for limited goals for the future. China became the third nation to achieve independent human spaceflight capability by sending Yang Liwei on a 21-hour flight on 15th October 2003. Because there are so many unknown factors about the exploration of Mars, it is difficult to accurately plan the exact nature of the work clothes the astronauts will need to wear. However, what is obvious is that footwear will need to be pressurised, as the Martian atmosphere is so thin. Due to Health and Hygiene reasons we are unable to accept underwear garments unless they are faulty.

After lunar surface exploration had been performed by six pairs of American astronauts, the programme ended in 1972. All manned NASA space missions after 1981 flew in the reusable Shuttle, often to launch or recover satellites or work on the International Space Station (ISS). Outer boots worn during spacewalks did not need to be as flexible as those used on the Moon’s surface or when inside the craft. A rigid sole was utilised and a heel clip fitted, which could locate and secure into foot restraints on the exterior of the ISS and on the robotic arm. NASA uses a suit called an ‘Extravehicular Mobility Unit’ (EMU) while Russia’s cosmonauts wear an ‘Orlan’ suit (Russian for ‘eagle’). Both of these suits and their corresponding boots are functionally very similar – they are designed to allow a crew member to perform operations in the vacuum of space while in the immediate vicinity of a spacecraft, although neither is designed for use on the surface of a body like the Moon or Mars. The current Chinese spacesuit was based on the Russian Orlan-M design and was worn by astronaut Zhai Zhigang during China's first-ever spacewalk on September 27th 2008. Prototypes for the Apollo boots were first designed in 1962 and, within six years, a definitive design had been forged. During the Apollo programme, this footwear gradually evolved, with the last changes made in 1972.

Additionally, if a semi-permeable membrane is used between an insulating liquid layer and the inner parts of the footwear, unwanted moisture could move from the inner parts of the footwear to the insulating liquid layer. The positive aspect of incorporating a semi-permeable membrane would be the reclamation of any water normally lost as a result of sweating. The negative outlook of using such a method is that all the other substances contained within sweat would be left in the inner parts of the footwear, requiring the boots to be cleaned out on a regular basis.There are both subtle and more prominent construction variations between both styles which include the below: Requiring good flexibility under very low temperatures, the ‘RTV630’ sole was manufactured from silicon by the General Electric Company, and featured a ¼ inch tread. A fabric incorporating stainless steel was selected for the covering of the outer boot, as this provided good abrasion resistance. Testing times With their matching boots and spacesuits, astronauts will be riding in style on Boeing's future flights to the space station. But more importantly, the new apparel will help make spaceflight more comfortable for astronauts than ever before.