1. Develop protocol to study astronaut volunteers before flight and on multiple occasions during flight using the MARES device to provide loading to the feet and legs as well as device that can apply pressure to the soles of the feet. The effects on muscle activation and performance associated with foot pressure alone or foot pressure plus lower limb loading will be investigated.

1. Quantify joint kinematics during treadmill locomotion on the ISS, and to compare those to treadmill locomotion on Earth.
2. Develop a computer model that will assess locomotion speed and external loading condition influences upon joint torque.
3. Determine the combination of subject load and speed that optimize joint loading during in-flight treadmill exercise in order model kinematics differences in different gravitational environments as well as to better inform exercise prescription.

1. Develop a mobile testbed to accurately simulate partial gravity.
2. Determine subject performance and the physiological responses to lunar  activities.
3. Create a series of standardized tests that can be used to determine crewmember readiness for these exploration tasks.

1. Task evaluations will be performed in shirtsleeve and suited conditions and under different gravitational loading profiles. Information directly address the physiological cost of exploration tasks and EVA operations scenarios that are of a nature of longer duration

Introduction

Exposure to the microgravity conditions of spaceflight causes astronauts to experience alterations in multiple physiological systems. These physiological changes include sensorimotor disturbances, cardiovascular deconditioning, and loss of muscle mass and strength. These changes might affect the ability of crewmembers to perform critical mission tasks immediately after landing on a planetary surface. To date, changes in functional performance have not been systematically studied or correlated with physiological changes. To understand how changes in physiological function affect functional performance, an interdisciplinary pre- and postflight testing regimen (Functional Task Test [FTT]) has been developed that systematically evaluates both astronaut postflight functional performance and related physiological changes. The overall objective of the FTT is to identify the key underlying physiological factors that contribute to performance of functional tests that are representative of critical mission tasks.  Flight, bed rest, and factors of influence ground analogs (e.g weight suit, muscle strength; galvonic stimulation, sensorimotor control) will be used to address specific aims.

Specific Aims

1) Determine the effects of short and long-duration spaceflight on functional performance.

2) Compare the rate of recovery in functional performance between short and long-duration spaceflight.

3) Determine how postflight changes in sensorimotor, cardiovascular and muscle physiology impact functional performance.

Pressurized space suits impose high joint torques on the wearer, reducing mobility for upper and lower body motions.  Because of the highly altered mobility capabilities and metabolic cost of movement when wearing a space suit, it is necessary for suits to be worn during many aspects of astronaut training and land-based research.  Using actual space suits outside of underwater neutral buoyancy environments is problematic due to the expense, bulk, weight, and difficulty in donning/doffing.  The goal of this project is to demonstrate a novel method for simulating space suit joint torques, which are non-linear and vary with angular position.  This novel method will allow for development of a full space suit simulator for land-based applications, which mimics the joint torques and resulting reduced mobility to a high level of fidelity, while offering characteristics of lighter weight, lower profile, and portability. 

Aurora Flight Sciences, together with the MIT Man-Vehicle Laboratory, are developing a wearable space suit simulator that imitates the mechanical properties of the current EVA space suit (the Extravehicular Mobility Unit, or EMU) and can be used in microgravity or partial gravity EVA experimentation and training.  The space suit simulator will include the following features:

• Quantifiable joint torque stiffness, which can be tuned to provide the capability for simulating current and future space suit designs
• Lightweight, novel joint design to reduce the bulkiness of the suit simulator, and allow it to be donned and doffed within the time required to set up other simulation activities (approximately 15 minutes) in a vertical or horizontal orientation
• Adjustable sizing for subjects of different heights and weights
• Comfortable fit and performance for partial gravity simulation exercises of up to four hours

This space suit simulator is appropriate for the requirements of future microgravity and planetary EVA experimentation, training, and simulation. 

1. Quantify joint kinematics during treadmill locomotion on the ISS, and to compare those to treadmill locomotion on Earth.
2. Develop a computer model that will assess locomotion speed and external loading condition influences upon joint torque.
3. Determine the combination of subject load and speed that optimize joint loading during in-flight treadmill exercise in order model kinematics differences in different gravitational environments as well as to better inform exercise prescription.

1. Develop a mobile testbed to accurately simulate partial gravity.
2. Determine subject performance and the physiological responses to lunar  activities.
3. Create a series of standardized tests that can be used to determine crewmember readiness for these exploration tasks.

Introduction

Exposure to the microgravity conditions of spaceflight causes astronauts to experience alterations in multiple physiological systems. These physiological changes include sensorimotor disturbances, cardiovascular deconditioning, and loss of muscle mass and strength. These changes might affect the ability of crewmembers to perform critical mission tasks immediately after landing on a planetary surface. To date, changes in functional performance have not been systematically studied or correlated with physiological changes. To understand how changes in physiological function affect functional performance, an interdisciplinary pre- and postflight testing regimen (Functional Task Test [FTT]) has been developed that systematically evaluates both astronaut postflight functional performance and related physiological changes. The overall objective of the FTT is to identify the key underlying physiological factors that contribute to performance of functional tests that are representative of critical mission tasks.  Flight, bed rest, and factors of influence ground analogs (e.g weight suit, muscle strength; galvonic stimulation, sensorimotor control) will be used to address specific aims.

Specific Aims

1) Determine the effects of short and long-duration spaceflight on functional performance.

2) Compare the rate of recovery in functional performance between short and long-duration spaceflight.

3) Determine how postflight changes in sensorimotor, cardiovascular and muscle physiology impact functional performance.

1. Task evaluations will be performed in shirtsleeve and suited conditions and under different gravitational loading profiles. Information directly address the physiological cost of exploration tasks and EVA operations scenarios that are of a nature of longer duration

Pressurized space suits impose high joint torques on the wearer, reducing mobility for upper and lower body motions.  Because of the highly altered mobility capabilities and metabolic cost of movement when wearing a space suit, it is necessary for suits to be worn during many aspects of astronaut training and land-based research.  Using actual space suits outside of underwater neutral buoyancy environments is problematic due to the expense, bulk, weight, and difficulty in donning/doffing.  The goal of this project is to demonstrate a novel method for simulating space suit joint torques, which are non-linear and vary with angular position.  This novel method will allow for development of a full space suit simulator for land-based applications, which mimics the joint torques and resulting reduced mobility to a high level of fidelity, while offering characteristics of lighter weight, lower profile, and portability. 

Aurora Flight Sciences, together with the MIT Man-Vehicle Laboratory, are developing a wearable space suit simulator that imitates the mechanical properties of the current EVA space suit (the Extravehicular Mobility Unit, or EMU) and can be used in microgravity or partial gravity EVA experimentation and training.  The space suit simulator will include the following features:

• Quantifiable joint torque stiffness, which can be tuned to provide the capability for simulating current and future space suit designs
• Lightweight, novel joint design to reduce the bulkiness of the suit simulator, and allow it to be donned and doffed within the time required to set up other simulation activities (approximately 15 minutes) in a vertical or horizontal orientation
• Adjustable sizing for subjects of different heights and weights
• Comfortable fit and performance for partial gravity simulation exercises of up to four hours

This space suit simulator is appropriate for the requirements of future microgravity and planetary EVA experimentation, training, and simulation. 

1. Quantify joint kinematics during treadmill locomotion on the ISS, and to compare those to treadmill locomotion on Earth.
2. Develop a computer model that will assess locomotion speed and external loading condition influences upon joint torque.
3. Determine the combination of subject load and speed that optimize joint loading during in-flight treadmill exercise in order model kinematics differences in different gravitational environments as well as to better inform exercise prescription.

1. Task evaluations will be performed in shirtsleeve and suited conditions and under different gravitational loading profiles. Information directly address the physiological cost of exploration tasks and EVA operations scenarios that are of a nature of longer duration

1. Develop a mobile testbed to accurately simulate partial gravity.
2. Determine subject performance and the physiological responses to lunar  activities.
3. Create a series of standardized tests that can be used to determine crewmember readiness for these exploration tasks.

Introduction

Exposure to the microgravity conditions of spaceflight causes astronauts to experience alterations in multiple physiological systems. These physiological changes include sensorimotor disturbances, cardiovascular deconditioning, and loss of muscle mass and strength. These changes might affect the ability of crewmembers to perform critical mission tasks immediately after landing on a planetary surface. To date, changes in functional performance have not been systematically studied or correlated with physiological changes. To understand how changes in physiological function affect functional performance, an interdisciplinary pre- and postflight testing regimen (Functional Task Test [FTT]) has been developed that systematically evaluates both astronaut postflight functional performance and related physiological changes. The overall objective of the FTT is to identify the key underlying physiological factors that contribute to performance of functional tests that are representative of critical mission tasks.  Flight, bed rest, and factors of influence ground analogs (e.g weight suit, muscle strength; galvonic stimulation, sensorimotor control) will be used to address specific aims.

Specific Aims

1) Determine the effects of short and long-duration spaceflight on functional performance.

2) Compare the rate of recovery in functional performance between short and long-duration spaceflight.

3) Determine how postflight changes in sensorimotor, cardiovascular and muscle physiology impact functional performance.

1. Quantify joint kinematics during treadmill locomotion on the ISS, and to compare those to treadmill locomotion on Earth.
2. Develop a computer model that will assess locomotion speed and external loading condition influences upon joint torque.
3. Determine the combination of subject load and speed that optimize joint loading during in-flight treadmill exercise in order model kinematics differences in different gravitational environments as well as to better inform exercise prescription.

Extended space flight as well as existence on the Moon and Mars will require exercise equipment and training protocols designed to maintain physical fitness and general health. Studies will investigate protocols designed to maintain both cardiovascular and musculoskeletal fitness using a gravity independent multi-mode exercise device (M-MED), which has been identified by NASA as potential flight hardware. M-MED can provide either high resistance strength- or low resistance endurance-mode exercises.  Followup studies on exersize protocol may include bed rest studies and evaluation on ISS.

The specific aims of this study are to:

1. Determine effectiveness of the M-MED on measures of muscle strength and aerobic capacity under normal weight bearing conditions.
2. Determine effectiveness of the M-MED on measures of muscle strength and aerobic capacity during skeletal muscle unloading.

This proposal aims to validate in an analog setting a small compact exercise device for the

protection of cardiovascular, muscle, and bone health. This study leverages both currently funded

NSRBRI and NASA work to bring together for the first time, a promising new exercise device and

exercise prescription thus placing this study at a high countermeasure readiness level (moving

from 6-7). More specifically, the NSBRI funded M-MED device uses a flywheel to provide loading for

either high force-low repetition resistance exercise or low force-high repetition, endurance exercise

(rowing). Recent data support M-MED training effectiveness in both ambulatory subjects and over

10 days of muscle unloading using unilateral lower limb suspension model. Accordingly, a new

NASA funded exercise prescription study integrating resistance and aerobic training (iRAT) has

been effective in the preservation of muscle and cardiovascular function over 14 days of bedrest,

but requires the use of 5 different exercise machines. This proposal will combine the M-MED

exercise device and the iRAT exercise prescription into a 70 day bedrest study. Outcome

measurements related to cardiovascular, muscle and bone health will be obtained and integrated to

assess countermeasure effectiveness.

1. Exercise hardware concepts will be developed for maintaining fitness during deep space exploration. The best candidate device based on ground-based testing will be tested for effectiveness aboard ISS.

Long duration space flight is associated with loss of muscle mass and strength and loss of bone mass. To date exercise countermeasures have not been fully effective. Current evidence suggests that the combination of testosterone, amino acids, and exercise will optimize the effectiveness of the existing exercise and nutritional countermeasures. This intervention may improve exercise effectiveness or allow for a reduced volume of required exercise.

The specific aims of this study are to:

1. Determine the effect of monthly cycled testosterone replacement in conjunction with resistance exercise on muscle mass, muscle strength, bone mass and markers of bone metabolism in men aged 35-55.
2. Determine the effect of daily leucine supplementation in conjunction with resistance exercise on muscle mass, muscle strength, bone mass and markers of bone metabolism in women aged 35-55.

1. Exercise countermeasures are currently only partially protective. Nutritional supplements may improve exercise countermeasures effectiveness. Studies will be solicited to test novel nutritional supplements to improve exercise effectiveness in a bed rest flight analog. This will directly address the gaps to minimize exercise time and hardware that is required.

1)   Develop an evidence-based approach to maintain physiological function while simultaneously decreasing total exercise time and volume by development of a novel exercise prescription for use on ISS.  The exercise regimen will use higher intensity resistance exercises and interval aerobic exercise according to the Intramural and extramural experts convened for two workshops held in 2008: the NASA Muscle Workshop in June 2008 and the NASA International Space Station Exercise Prescription Workshop in October 2008.  

2) Include an increase in the intensity and a reduction in the volume of resistance exercises, include very short, but high intensity interval-type aerobic exercises, and start the exercise countermeasures as early as possible in the flight, preferably in the first week. 

1. This study should evaluate new exploration class exercise hardware. Proof of concept will be performed in bed rest followed by a flight evaluation. These studies specifically address gaps related to minimization of crew time spent exercising.

1. Environmental and genetic influences affect human performance and responses to exercise. Proposals will be solicited to answer the following questions.  What are the effects of dehydration on muscle mass, strength, power, and fatigability?  What are the mechanisms of those effects?  What is the effect of gender?  How do the effects of dehydration contribute to the muscle "deconditioning" associated with long-duration bed rest?

1. Environmental and genetic influences affect human performance and responses to exercise. Proposals will be solicited to answer the following questions.  What are the mechanisms of the gender effects on loss of exercise capacity and muscle function (including muscle mass, strength, power, and fatigability) during long-duration bed rest?  Are gender specific countermeasures needed?  If so, what are the best countermeasures to protect both men and women?

1. Following successful proof of concept in a bed rest flight analog, the best candidate supplements to exercise countermeasures will be tested in flight during long duration flight aboard ISS. This will directly address the gaps to minimize exercise time and hardware that is required.

1. Monitor exercise activities.
2. Detect markers placed on the body and other image features.
3. Recover 3D kinematic body pose.
   

1. Quantify joint kinematics during treadmill locomotion on the ISS, and to compare those to treadmill locomotion on Earth.
2. Develop a computer model that will assess locomotion speed and external loading condition influences upon joint torque.
3. Determine the combination of subject load and speed that optimize joint loading during in-flight treadmill exercise in order model kinematics differences in different gravitational environments as well as to better inform exercise prescription.

Extended space flight as well as existence on the Moon and Mars will require exercise equipment and training protocols designed to maintain physical fitness and general health. Studies will investigate protocols designed to maintain both cardiovascular and musculoskeletal fitness using a gravity independent multi-mode exercise device (M-MED), which has been identified by NASA as potential flight hardware. M-MED can provide either high resistance strength- or low resistance endurance-mode exercises.  Followup studies on exersize protocol may include bed rest studies and evaluation on ISS.

The specific aims of this study are to:

1. Determine effectiveness of the M-MED on measures of muscle strength and aerobic capacity under normal weight bearing conditions.
2. Determine effectiveness of the M-MED on measures of muscle strength and aerobic capacity during skeletal muscle unloading.

This proposal aims to validate in an analog setting a small compact exercise device for the

protection of cardiovascular, muscle, and bone health. This study leverages both currently funded

NSRBRI and NASA work to bring together for the first time, a promising new exercise device and

exercise prescription thus placing this study at a high countermeasure readiness level (moving

from 6-7). More specifically, the NSBRI funded M-MED device uses a flywheel to provide loading for

either high force-low repetition resistance exercise or low force-high repetition, endurance exercise

(rowing). Recent data support M-MED training effectiveness in both ambulatory subjects and over

10 days of muscle unloading using unilateral lower limb suspension model. Accordingly, a new

NASA funded exercise prescription study integrating resistance and aerobic training (iRAT) has

been effective in the preservation of muscle and cardiovascular function over 14 days of bedrest,

but requires the use of 5 different exercise machines. This proposal will combine the M-MED

exercise device and the iRAT exercise prescription into a 70 day bedrest study. Outcome

measurements related to cardiovascular, muscle and bone health will be obtained and integrated to

assess countermeasure effectiveness.

1. Exercise hardware concepts will be developed for maintaining fitness during deep space exploration. The best candidate device based on ground-based testing will be tested for effectiveness aboard ISS.

Long duration space flight is associated with loss of muscle mass and strength and loss of bone mass. To date exercise countermeasures have not been fully effective. Current evidence suggests that the combination of testosterone, amino acids, and exercise will optimize the effectiveness of the existing exercise and nutritional countermeasures. This intervention may improve exercise effectiveness or allow for a reduced volume of required exercise.

The specific aims of this study are to:

1. Determine the effect of monthly cycled testosterone replacement in conjunction with resistance exercise on muscle mass, muscle strength, bone mass and markers of bone metabolism in men aged 35-55.
2. Determine the effect of daily leucine supplementation in conjunction with resistance exercise on muscle mass, muscle strength, bone mass and markers of bone metabolism in women aged 35-55.

1. Exercise countermeasures are currently only partially protective. Nutritional supplements may improve exercise countermeasures effectiveness. Studies will be solicited to test novel nutritional supplements to improve exercise effectiveness in a bed rest flight analog. This will directly address the gaps to minimize exercise time and hardware that is required.

1)   Develop an evidence-based approach to maintain physiological function while simultaneously decreasing total exercise time and volume by development of a novel exercise prescription for use on ISS.  The exercise regimen will use higher intensity resistance exercises and interval aerobic exercise according to the Intramural and extramural experts convened for two workshops held in 2008: the NASA Muscle Workshop in June 2008 and the NASA International Space Station Exercise Prescription Workshop in October 2008.  

2) Include an increase in the intensity and a reduction in the volume of resistance exercises, include very short, but high intensity interval-type aerobic exercises, and start the exercise countermeasures as early as possible in the flight, preferably in the first week. 

1. This study should evaluate new exploration class exercise hardware. Proof of concept will be performed in bed rest followed by a flight evaluation. These studies specifically address gaps related to minimization of crew time spent exercising.

1. Environmental and genetic influences affect human performance and responses to exercise. Proposals will be solicited to answer the following questions.  What are the mechanisms of the gender effects on loss of exercise capacity and muscle function (including muscle mass, strength, power, and fatigability) during long-duration bed rest?  Are gender specific countermeasures needed?  If so, what are the best countermeasures to protect both men and women?

1. Environmental and genetic influences affect human performance and responses to exercise. Proposals will be solicited to answer the following questions.  What are the effects of dehydration on muscle mass, strength, power, and fatigability?  What are the mechanisms of those effects?  What is the effect of gender?  How do the effects of dehydration contribute to the muscle "deconditioning" associated with long-duration bed rest?

1. Following successful proof of concept in a bed rest flight analog, the best candidate supplements to exercise countermeasures will be tested in flight during long duration flight aboard ISS. This will directly address the gaps to minimize exercise time and hardware that is required.

1. Monitor exercise activities.
2. Detect markers placed on the body and other image features.
3. Recover 3D kinematic body pose.
   

1. Quantify joint kinematics during treadmill locomotion on the ISS, and to compare those to treadmill locomotion on Earth.
2. Develop a computer model that will assess locomotion speed and external loading condition influences upon joint torque.
3. Determine the combination of subject load and speed that optimize joint loading during in-flight treadmill exercise in order model kinematics differences in different gravitational environments as well as to better inform exercise prescription.

Extended space flight as well as existence on the Moon and Mars will require exercise equipment and training protocols designed to maintain physical fitness and general health. Studies will investigate protocols designed to maintain both cardiovascular and musculoskeletal fitness using a gravity independent multi-mode exercise device (M-MED), which has been identified by NASA as potential flight hardware. M-MED can provide either high resistance strength- or low resistance endurance-mode exercises.  Followup studies on exersize protocol may include bed rest studies and evaluation on ISS.

The specific aims of this study are to:

1. Determine effectiveness of the M-MED on measures of muscle strength and aerobic capacity under normal weight bearing conditions.
2. Determine effectiveness of the M-MED on measures of muscle strength and aerobic capacity during skeletal muscle unloading.

This proposal aims to validate in an analog setting a small compact exercise device for the

protection of cardiovascular, muscle, and bone health. This study leverages both currently funded

NSRBRI and NASA work to bring together for the first time, a promising new exercise device and

exercise prescription thus placing this study at a high countermeasure readiness level (moving

from 6-7). More specifically, the NSBRI funded M-MED device uses a flywheel to provide loading for

either high force-low repetition resistance exercise or low force-high repetition, endurance exercise

(rowing). Recent data support M-MED training effectiveness in both ambulatory subjects and over

10 days of muscle unloading using unilateral lower limb suspension model. Accordingly, a new

NASA funded exercise prescription study integrating resistance and aerobic training (iRAT) has

been effective in the preservation of muscle and cardiovascular function over 14 days of bedrest,

but requires the use of 5 different exercise machines. This proposal will combine the M-MED

exercise device and the iRAT exercise prescription into a 70 day bedrest study. Outcome

measurements related to cardiovascular, muscle and bone health will be obtained and integrated to

assess countermeasure effectiveness.

1. Exercise hardware concepts will be developed for maintaining fitness during deep space exploration. The best candidate device based on ground-based testing will be tested for effectiveness aboard ISS.

Long duration space flight is associated with loss of muscle mass and strength and loss of bone mass. To date exercise countermeasures have not been fully effective. Current evidence suggests that the combination of testosterone, amino acids, and exercise will optimize the effectiveness of the existing exercise and nutritional countermeasures. This intervention may improve exercise effectiveness or allow for a reduced volume of required exercise.

The specific aims of this study are to:

1. Determine the effect of monthly cycled testosterone replacement in conjunction with resistance exercise on muscle mass, muscle strength, bone mass and markers of bone metabolism in men aged 35-55.
2. Determine the effect of daily leucine supplementation in conjunction with resistance exercise on muscle mass, muscle strength, bone mass and markers of bone metabolism in women aged 35-55.