Aboard 'Discovery': Eyewear by Silhouette

When the space shuttle 'Discovery' will be launched from the Kennedy Space Center at Florida's Cape Canaveral (today, as estimated), it will have eyewear by the Austrian frame manufacturer Silhouette on board. For several years already, Nasa astronauts have been exclusively using the lightweight frame by Silhouette.

The U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) uses ophthalmic Titan Minimal Art frames for its astronauts, without any modification. The unique technology and considerable know-how necessary to develop this eyewear have already won the Titan Minimal Art frames a 'Certified Space Technology' distinction by the Space Foundation.

Due to the extremely low weight of the frames (a Titan Minimal Art weighs less than 1.8 grams, approx. 10 grams including the lenses), the level of pressure exerted on the sensitive areas of the face is extraordinarily slight and ensures that wearers will have a perfect view of their surroundings, in any situation.

Special sunwear lenses were developed as the only concession to adjust to the extraordinary conditions in outer space. While the earth's atmosphere e.g. reduces sunlight intensity, astronauts are exposed to undiluted UV and infrared radiation on their missions. Much darker and coated with an ultra-thin gold layer, the specially developed sun protection lenses offer a perfect shield against the intense light rays in space.