Life aboard the International Space Station comes with challenges most of us never think about–including how to simply stay still. In microgravity, astronauts don’t walk; they float. To keep from drifting while working, they hook the tops of their feet under handrails. It’s a clever solution, but over time, the pressure from the metal rails can cause discomfort, bruising, and sore spots on the tops of their feet.

NASA brought this problem to students through the HUNCH program, inviting them to design a better way. Students across the country brainstormed, tested materials, and sewed prototypes until they landed on an elegant fix: soft, shoe-like foot pads that protect the tops of the feet from pressure while staying lightweight, comfortable, and easy to clean.

Their design worked so well that it became a permanent part of life on station. Today, every astronaut aboard the ISS uses HUNCH foot pads, and many even request custom designs.

A small idea from a classroom on Earth has made life a little more comfortable 250 miles above it–showing how student innovation can leave a real mark on space exploration.