A mock-up spacesuit boot used in tests Maryam Al Kuwaitti
Astronauts sent to explore Mars may be more sure-footed if their boots are fitted with microphones to help them hear their own footsteps, say the authors of research suggesting that sound is vital to our ability to step accurately.
The sound of a boot landing provides useful cues about the terrain, whether it is sandy, crusty or rocky, says Jose Berengueres at United Arab Emirates University. But spacesuits stop astronauts from feeling the ground under their feet and tend to muffle sound. The Apollo moon missions recorded 27 falls…
