Deep Space High: Space For All

Did you know they there’s a job in space exploration no matter what you love to do?!

Whether it’s math, sport or cooking, there’s going to be a career in space exploration that you could be working in when you’re older.

In ‘Deep Space High: Space For All’ Principle Pulsar, Sam, Quark and the whole Deep Space High classroom are learning all about all the different careers you could have in space.

Physical Education… in space!

You may not think that being good at PE could get you a job in space, but it can!

Exercise is a really important part of the daily routine for astronauts aboard the International Space Station.

When an astronaut is in space they feel weightlessness which means their muscles don’t have to work as hard when they walk, pick things up or even hold a pen!

You might not realise it but your bones, muscles, heart, lungs and organs are all working all day everyday against the gravity you feel here on earth. Astronauts don’t feel this as much due to there being less gravity in space.

This can change their bodies is quite a big way. They can have loss of calcium from bones, and a weakening of the heart, which no longer has to work against gravity to pump blood around the body. The longer an astronaut stays in space, the more noticeable the changes that take place.

That means that astronauts need to do plenty of exercise to stop these things from happening.

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On average, astronauts exercise two hours per day. The equipment they use is different than what we use on Earth. Lifting 200 pounds on Earth may be a lot of work. But lifting that same object in space would be much easier!

That means exercise equipment needs to be specially designed for use in space so astronauts will receive the workout needed.

So what sort of exercise machines work in space?

One’s that the astronauts can be strapped down to!

The ISS has two treadmills, a resistive exercise device, and a cycling machine, all with straps so that the astronaut doesn’t float away.

The treadmills are used to simulate walking and running in normal gravity. The cycle can be used to exercise arms or legs. The resistive exercise device is a lot like weightlifting on Earth. It allows the user to complete a series of physical exercises while restrained by elastic bungee cords. A portable computer monitors heart rate and other vital signs while the astronauts are using the machines.

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