Every day, astronaut Thomas Pesquet has to practice two and a half hours of sport. This makes it possible to limit the muscle loss linked to his stay in space.
On board the International Space Station (ISS), Thomas Pesquet is the dream of millions of French people. But this six-month trip to space is not at all relaxing for the astronaut. If he delights Internet users with his photos of the Earth seen from the sky, he does much more than capture beautiful landscapes. On March 10, the French put on his sneakers to show the ISS gym, via a video posted by the European Space Agency (ESA) on YouTube.
“The best view in the world”
Exercise bike, treadmill, weight machine… Each day, Thomas Pesquet follows a precise program. He must, in fact, practice 2 and a half hours of physical activity every day, in addition to his various research projects. The machines are suitable for an environment not only narrow, but also subject to microgravity. They therefore have a particular profile. The exercise bike can therefore be used without a seat and the treadmill is in a horizontal position.
The highlight of the show is undoubtedly the ISS’s weight machine, which combines several activities in one device. With an advantage to the key for the astronauts on mission: a breathtaking view. “Just below my feet is the Cupola, with a view of the Earth,” explains Thomas Pesquet. It’s the gym with the best view in the world! “
Black belt in judo and adept at diving, the French astronaut is used to training his body. But its mission aboard the ISS makes the exercise special. For six months, Thomas Pesquet will have no stress on the muscles usually solicited.
Forgotten muscles
As the Canadian Space Agency explains, certain muscles are constantly called upon to counter the effect of gravity. “These muscles, commonly called the antigravity muscles, are the gastrocnemius (calf muscles), the quadriceps, and the back and neck muscles,” the Agency website. Since astronauts work in microgravity, a very small amount of muscle contraction is enough for the muscles to support their bodies and allow them to move. It is therefore necessary to strengthen them. For this, the weight machine can simulate up to 272 kg of force.
“In space, we float all day, there are a lot of muscles that we do not use: the muscles of the back, the muscles of the thighs, explains the space traveler. We must therefore limit bone and muscle loss. “In fact, astronauts lose 20 to 30% of their muscle mass during a space trip.
A battery of tests
All of these effects are well known and are being studied. From the preparation phase, Thomas Pesquet had to submit to a regime of four hours of daily physical activity. He also measured his muscle mass using a machine called MARES. He will undergo tests on his return, like many of his colleagues.
MARES’s chair strangely reminds me of the dentist’s chair, plus electric shocks in my leg #sufferingforscience pic.twitter.com/tM2IFohZTA
– Thomas Pesquet (@Thom_astro) Dec. 2, 2016
Another subject of analysis, the hearts of our astronauts. Because in space, the vital organ tends to atrophy. The consequences of the return on cardiovascular health are still poorly understood.
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