Final Year Design Project 2021-2022

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Background

There are gaps in current training regimens for astronauts on the ISS that result in Plyometric Deconditioning

As long-term Lunar and Martian exploratory missions are underway; a need was identified to provide plyometric exercise countermeasures to combat physiological deconditioning in non-Earth gravity environments.

What is Plyometrics?

Performing Plyometrics

Performing Plyometrics

All explosive forces generated by the human body are Plyometric in nature. There are three stages to Plyometric motion:

What are the challenges of performing Plyometrics in space?

When performing Plyometric motion on Earth, there is usually just one surface the human body is in contact with - the ground. Furthermore, based on how the storing/release of potential energy works, all Plyometric motion on Earth requires Gravity.

Problem: No gravity on the ISS!

Our Hypothesis: If we invert the frame of reference - i.e. brace the human being such that a flat contact surface applies the ‘inverse’ of the force that the human would apply on the ground on Earth, we could exercise plyometrics in space!

Preliminary Sketch of Hypothesis

Preliminary Sketch of Hypothesis

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