Agnirva Space Premier League - Expedition #32687: Shooting for the Worm Free Flex: Testing Flexible Materials in Orbit

What happens when you send industrial materials into space? For one Japanese company, the goal was to find out how flexible tubing behaves in microgravity. The experiment “Shooting for the Worm Free Flex,” carried out by Osaka Rasenkan Kogyo Co., Ltd. and supported by JAXA, tested commercial-grade flexible tubes on the ISS during Expeditions 71 and 72.

The focus was on observing how these tubes—designed to resist worm-like bending or twisting—perform under space conditions. In microgravity, materials react differently than on Earth. By evaluating changes in shape, elasticity, and wear resistance, researchers hope to develop tubing that’s ideal for use in space applications—like air supply systems, water circulation, or fluid transfer units.

The broader goal is to create products that can function reliably in both space and harsh Earth environments. Think chemical plants, clean rooms, or even underwater systems. Testing in orbit allows researchers to accelerate aging tests and observe effects more quickly and accurately.

Experiments like this demonstrate how commercial technologies are finding new life through space research. They also show how companies can innovate by working with space agencies to test, validate, and refine their products.

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