Astronauts Face Muscle Loss in Space: A New Suit Could Be the Solution

Imagine losing 20% of your muscle mass in just 11 days in space due to zero gravity. This causes muscle fibers to shrink, leading to weakness and coordination issues. To prevent this, astronauts exercise for about two and a half hours daily. The Cosmofit Exosuit, designed by Minwoo Lee, a student at Hongik University, is a new suit for astronauts on SpaceX’s upcoming mission. It integrates resistance training into their daily movements to maintain muscle mass in zero gravity.

The Cosmofit suit consists of two parts: the suit itself and the mechanical augmentations called the ‘exo’ part. Electrode pads in the suit provide electrical muscle stimulation to keep muscles active and aid in recovery. The exoskeleton, with motors providing resistance, turns regular movements into workouts, preventing muscle weakening.

The EMS suit can be worn all day, with the exoskeleton added for specific periods. It can also monitor vitals and fitness levels, offering a comprehensive view of health. By integrating fitness into daily movements, astronauts can stay healthy in space more efficiently.

The Cosmofit Exosuit offers a promising solution to combat muscle loss during long space missions, making astronaut fitness in the future more effective.