The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency sent high-tech "space underwear" last month to the 33 trapped miners in northern Chile, who on Tuesday local time started to emerge after 69 days underground, officials said Wednesday.
Developed by JAXA and fabric manufacturers, the underwear is effective at absorbing moisture and odors. Temperatures in the mine are reported to be around 35 degrees, the officials said.
The underwear is made of the same high-tech material as was worn by astronaut Naoko Yamazaki during a two-week mission in April aboard the space shuttle Discovery to and from the International Space Station, they said.
Five sets of underwear for each trapped miner were sent via the Foreign Ministry to the Chilean government, along with mint candies and "kuroame" sweets used as space food to help relieve stress, the officials said.
"Most of the miners we have observed via news programs were stripped to the waist, so we are not sure if they tried our underwear," a JAXA official said. "Anyway, what is most important is that they would be lifted out safely to the surface."
Later in the day, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshito Sengoku welcomed the news that the miners were starting to make it out of the mine, calling it a miracle.
Prime Minister Naoto Kan sent a congratulatory message to Chilean President Sebastian Pinera via diplomatic channels, he said.
"It's like a miracle of the 21st century," Sengoku said. "I've been holding my breath while watching it unfold."