In space, we lose up to 20% of our muscle mass in just 11 days. Astronauts must exercise for nearly two and a half hours every day to prevent muscle atrophy. Pretty scary, right? Exposure to weightlessness causes muscle fibers to shrink, leaving astronauts much weaker and less coordinated. Who would have thought that weightlessness could have such an impact on our health?
Designed to help astronauts stay healthy through regular exercise, the Cosmofit exosuit was conceived for astronauts heading to the Moon on SpaceX’s upcoming mission, which aims to build a lunar base to replace the ISS in 2030. Created by Hongik University student Minwoo Lee, Cosmofit is designed to be worn indoors and uses resistance-based training to turn simple movements like walking or grabbing something into micro-workouts, so astronauts can exert more force to perform basic movements and maintain muscle mass in a zero-gravity environment.
Designer: Minwoo Lee
The Cosmofit Bodysuit consists of two parts: the suit itself and the mechanical reinforcements that are worn around the back and waist, or the “exo” part of the suit. The suit has electrode pads placed around different muscle groups that deliver electrical stimulation to different muscles to keep them active and healthy, and to help muscles recover after stressful workouts. By delivering electrical pulses, the suit helps rebuild muscle tissue and aids recovery.
Meanwhile, the outer exoskeleton uses a series of motors to provide mechanical resistance, helping to exert more pressure as you move around, turning regular activities into mini-workouts (like jogging or ankle weights), helping to prevent muscle atrophy and weakness.
While EMS (Electrical Muscle Stimulation) suits can be worn for long periods of time, exoskeletons are only worn at certain times of the day. The exoskeleton may track vital signs and fitness levels throughout activity, giving astronauts a comprehensive view of their health. While exercising for two and a half hours a day seems like a lot of work, doesn’t turning your daily exercise into a fitness routine seem like a much easier way to stay healthy in zero gravity?
