In space, astronauts have to adapt to the loss of gravity. In order to do this they have to stay physically fit. If astronauts don't do this then the human body won't have enough energy to pump blood from the feet back into the heart, stand up, walk and run. Also the muscles in the astronauts’ body become weaker, and bones will lose some of their calcium. The first way in history for astronauts to exercise in space was on the Skylab space Station, which had enough room for astronauts to use a bicycle ergometer, which measures how much energy they used during exercises. Astronauts also did gymnastics in the large forward compartment. Space shuttle astronauts can tie themselves with a bungee cord to a treadmill and walk to stay fit.
Text: Gabriel D., Julian Middle School
Background: Noi, Banner: Ido, Ein Ganim School
Citaton:
"Human Energy and Space Fitness." Eweek. 11 Feb. 2008 <www.eweek.org>.
Image:
Astronaut Robert L. Curbeam works out on the ergometer on the Space Shuttle
Atlantis in 2001. {{Public Domain; NASA}}
In space, astronauts have to adapt to the loss of gravity. In order to do this they have to stay physically fit. If astronauts don't do this then the human body won't have enough energy to pump blood from the feet back into the heart, stand up, walk and run. Also the muscles in the astronauts’ body become weaker, and bones will lose some of their calcium. The first way in history for astronauts to exercise in space was on the Skylab space Station, which had enough room for astronauts to use a bicycle ergometer, which measures how much energy they used during exercises. Astronauts also did gymnastics in the large forward compartment. Space shuttle astronauts can tie themselves with a bungee cord to a treadmill and walk to stay fit.