Maintaining peak crew health in the challenging environment of space is a top priority for NASA. The International Space Station (ISS) was a hub of activity focused on muscle and exercise research. Astronauts face a unique challenge: the absence of gravity leads to muscle atrophy and bone loss, making daily, rigorous exercise—two hours a day—essential to counteract these effects and ensure readiness for Earth's gravity.
NASA Flight Engineers Nichole Ayers and Jonny Kim teamed up in the Columbus laboratory module to conduct a cutting-edge electrical muscle stimulation study. This research aims to investigate how combining electrical signals with exercise can enhance muscle function, reduce workout times, and facilitate the design of lighter exercise equipment for future long-duration missions. The findings from this study could also significantly benefit patients on Earth with mobility issues. During the session, Ayers wore electrodes on her legs, receiving electrical signals, while Kim operated the biomedical equipment to record her muscles' responses.
Following this, Ayers continued with an extensive exercise regimen. She donned a sensor-packed headband and vest to collect data on her heart and breathing rates as she worked out on the advanced resistive exercise device, which simulates free weights, and then transitioned to an exercise cycle. This continuous health data will allow researchers to fine-tune crew exercise plans and enhance aerobic and cardiovascular conditioning in microgravity.
Beyond exercise, the crew also focused on vital station upkeep. Ayers and Kim, alongside NASA Flight Engineer Anne McClain, worked in the Tranquility module to replace a catalytic reactor. This crucial component introduces oxygen into the station’s water processor assembly and oxidizes organic material in wastewater, ensuring a clean water supply. JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) Station Commander Takuya Onishi assisted the trio by reinstalling hardware in Tranquility, allowing access to these advanced life support components.
Onishi started his day in the Kibo laboratory module, meticulously troubleshooting and inspecting combustion research hardware in the Multipurpose Small Payload Rack. He then replaced the Microgravity Measurement Apparatus, a device essential for monitoring vibrations in Kibo caused by crew activities and spacecraft dockings, which could otherwise affect sensitive science experiments.
Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Kirill Peskov also contributed to exercise research. They took turns jogging on the Zvezda service module’s treadmill for a fitness evaluation. The collected data will help doctors determine the energy requirements needed for crew members to stay fit in space, ensuring they are prepared for demanding tasks like spacewalks and the eventual return to Earth's gravity. Rounding out the day's activities, Roscosmos Flight Engineer Alexey Zubritskiy performed routine maintenance, cleaning ventilation systems and smoke detectors, and underwent training for critical medical procedures, including eye checks, needle injections, and injury treatments, highlighting the comprehensive nature of astronaut preparedness for life in orbit.