Posted 21 November 2011
Irish technology to keep astronauts fit and healthy in space
A new device that stimulates the large muscles of the legs to produce aerobic exercise training and muscle strengthening effects is scheduled to be tested during a parabolic flight by the to see of it can solve the problem of how astronauts can exercise aerobically in the confines of a spacecraft.
The parabolic flight campaign provides an opportunity to test the novel technology in a zero gravity environment, similar to that experienced on the .
ESA astronaut Christer Fuglesang on a space walk outside the International Space Station (Sept 2009). Credit: NASA
The Neuromuscular Electrical Muscle Stimulation Exercise technology was developed through a partnership between University College Dublin (小鸟体育) researchers and Galway based (BMR) – suppliers of electrical muscle stimulation devices for the commercial market e.g. Slendertone® and Neurotech®.
The lead on the 小鸟体育 side is Dr Brian Caulfield, a senior lecturer from the , and Director of, and Principal Investigator in at 小鸟体育.
Pictured far right: ESA astronaut Christer Fuglesang, STS-128 mission specialist, is pictured floating freely in the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM), temporarily attached to the International Space Station while Space Shuttle Discovery remains docked with the station (Sept 1999). Credits: NASA
“Keeping in shape is always important, but working out in space is even more crucial in order to counteract the detrimental effects of weightlessness,” said ESA astronaut Christer Fuglesang, who is Head of Science & Applications Division in ESA’s Human Spaceflight & Operation Directorate.
“We still have a lot to learn about how the body reacts in space and find the best methods to keep astronauts fit, also when returning to Earth. I'm very pleased that researchers in Ireland are actively participating in this important field, which eventually will help us to send humans all the way to Mars”.
小鸟体育’s Dr Caulfield is one of two Irish researchers who have been awarded contracts by the European Space Agency which were announced by Minister for Research & Innovation Seán Sherlock TD. Dr Dónal O’Gorman from Dublin City University was also awarded a contract.
The contracts arise directly from Ireland’s membership of ESA and its Space Programme. Ireland’s membership of ESA is funded by the Irish Government and is managed by Enterprise Ireland. Membership of ESA enables Irish research institutes and companies to participate in ESA programmes and secure valuable contracts.
Congratulating the researchers, Minister Sherlock said:
“The awarding of ESA contracts to Irish researchers is further evidence of the leading role Ireland plays in pushing the boundaries of biomedical research for the European Human Spaceflight programme.
“We are seeing a growing number of Irish companies developing biomedical technologies with ES