Weightless “Weight”-Lifting Builds Muscle on Earth
From the very early days of human spaceflight, NASANational Aeronautics and Space Administration has been aware that astronauts lose bone density and muscle mass during prolonged periods of time in space. On Earth, our bones and muscles are constantly working against gravity – even when we are just standing around! As construction of the International Space Station neared completion, scientists knew they would need to devise a way to keep the astronauts healthy during longer-term missions in space. Technology designed to maintain muscles and bones in space resulted in a better way those of us here on Earth can improve our health.