Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2023-04-11 Origin: Site
Today is World Space Day, and it is also the moment when all mankind has achieved manned spaceflight for 60 years! On April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin returned to the ground after successfully orbiting the earth in the "Vostok 1" spacecraft, becoming the first person to travel in space.
but you know what? It's been 50 years since the first fitness club opened on Earth, but long before that, there have been gyms in space. The Space Gym can be traced back to 1965. It started with a simple rubber band and elastic band. In the past 50 years, the elastic band has been upgraded to a resistance training device. The Space Treadmill has evolved from a "running board" to a "running platform".
The Space Bicycle Ergometer has also been upgraded to a more ergonomic version, and the Space Rowing Machine has become a popular piece of equipment. In addition, space stations have also become equipped with other exercise equipment such as the Space Elliptical Trainer, the Space Step Machine, and the Space Cross Trainer. This equipment has been designed to help astronauts stay in shape and counter the effects of weightlessness in space. Even though the Space Gym has come a long way since 1965, there is still room for improvement. In the future, astronauts will be able to use virtual reality technology to simulate Earth-like fitness activities in space.
When the human body is on the ground, because of the effect of gravity, even if you cannot perceive it due to habit, the bones and muscles are actually supporting our body all the time, and they are always "moving". However, in the weightless environment of space, it is quite different from the perception of the human body on the ground. The support force of bones and muscles to the human body is greatly reduced, resulting in decreased bone density and muscle atrophy.
For astronauts, fitness is a "daily necessity" for living in space. Since the human body is in a state of weightlessness for a long time, the astronaut's whole body will undergo corresponding changes.
The first is the change of cardiovascular function. The blood, lymph and other fluids in the lower body of astronauts will flow more into the chest cavity and head when they are weightless, causing facial edema, head swelling, varicose veins in the neck, and the center of gravity of the body will move up. However, with the prolongation of flight time, the cardiovascular system can gradually adapt to this change and achieve a new balance.
It also causes changes in bones and muscles. Astronauts have increased bone loss, causing osteoporosis, and it lasts for a long time. At the same time, in a weightless environment, the muscles of the astronauts, including the muscles of the trunk, knees and shoulders, will be significantly weakened because they do not need to bear their own weight. According to statistics, after a short-term space flight, people will lose 10%-20% of their muscles. If no active fitness countermeasures are taken, they may lose 50% of their muscles during long-term flights.
Therefore, the main purpose of astronauts' fitness is not to "lose weight", but to keep the body strong in weightlessness while preventing muscle relaxation.
NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg, an Expedition 37 flight engineer aboard the International Space Station, demonstrates how astronauts run on the COLBERT treadmill in a weightless environment. Station crew members exercise for at least two hours every day to keep fit and to prevent the loss of muscle mass and bone density that occurs during long-duration spaceflight.
Let's look at the video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ikouWcXhd0
The weight of the treadmill on the space station is a variable value. As soon as the astronauts go to the sky, the treadmill is set to 60% of the astronaut’s own body weight, and then slowly increases. Finally, depending on the body’s acceptance, it reaches 85- 100%.
Unlike what many people imagined, the resistance training performed by astronauts in space is not low in intensity.
The Canadian Space Agency has listed five points for astronauts' exercise purposes:
lReduce bone degeneration / loss of bone density
lmaintain muscle strength, including heart muscle
lMaintain adequate physical mobility for spacewalks and space station work
lAfter ensuring long-term space life, astronauts still have enough mobility to deal with emergency procedures during landing
lStay fit and in shape, which also aids recovery when back on the ground
Human beings have never stopped exploring space, and astronauts have never stopped exercising in space. Exercising in space is important for astronauts' health and well-being, as it allows them to stay fit and remain in good physical condition. This is especially important for astronauts who will be spending long durations in space, as it helps them to maintain their bone density and muscle strength, as well as their physical mobility. Furthermore, it can help them to recover more quickly after they return to Earth.
By exercising in space, astronauts can continue to explore the universe and push the boundaries of human exploration. As a society, let's work together to promote a healthy lifestyle and encourage everyone to stay fit and active!
