Silhouette marks 20th NASA mission

Green Island, NY-Silhouette Optical Ltd. once again has trekked into the final frontier, marking the 20th space mission that included its eyewear products.

On Dec. 9, a seven-member crew aboard the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) space shuttle Discovery was launched into space on a 12-day mission, designated STS-116, to the International Space Station. The astronauts each took sunwear and ophthalmic eyewear, including Silhouette's Titan Minimal Art, Titan Next Generation, and Adidas models.

Missions in space create new challenges for eyewear. For example, on space walks, astronauts wear hermetically sealed suits and cannot adjust their glasses for up to 10 hours at a time.

Silhouette and Adidas eyewear also provided sun protection for the mission, crucial in space, where the sun's rays are more than 30% stronger. In 2002, Silhouette worked with NASA to develop a lens with a thin gold coating and 5.5% light transmission. The lens design itself also protects the crew; its curved form further cuts the amount of light coming from the sides and vertically