Whoa, Really?

When NASA was planning its Mars exploration missions in the late 1960s and early 1970s, scientists knew that spacecraft parachuting down onto the red planet would have to be especially tough. Ordinary tires wouldn't do, so the space agency contracted Goodyear to create new landing gear for its Viking probes. The company came up with a new fibrous material that was five times stronger than steel, giving the Vikings the durable tires they needed. After the mission, Goodyear incorporated the new invention into commercial products, thereby adding about 16,000 kilometres to the lifespan of some radial tires.

Source: http://tech.ca.msn.com/photogallery.aspx?cp-documentid=28627010&page=4

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