Moon-dwelling astronauts may be able to stay fit and counteract the effects of low gravity on their bodies by running along the walls like Spiderman. A paper in the Royal Society Open Science journal suggests that running horizontally around a cylinder on the moon’s surface could help astronauts avoid muscle, skeleton, and cardiovascular degeneration due to the moon’s weak gravity. Long-term living in low gravity can lead to muscle hypotrophy, bone demineralization, and other health issues, so finding a way to stay fit is crucial for astronauts spending extended periods of time on the moon.
The researchers from the University of Milan proposed the idea of astronauts running along vertical walls of a cylinder-shaped room to generate centrifugal acceleration similar to a higher level of gravity. By running fast at speeds of 12-14.5 mph in a cylinder with a radius of about 15.4 feet, astronauts would experience enough centrifugal force to mimic the effects of gravity. This method would help maintain bone density and prevent muscle atrophy, providing a way for astronauts to stay fit during their time on the moon. The researchers tested this idea using a fairground attraction to simulate low gravity and found that it was indeed feasible for astronauts to run along the walls in lunar gravity conditions.
To emulate lunar gravity, the researchers used pre-tensed bungee-jumping bands to unload 83% of the astronaut’s body weight. This allowed participants to maintain fast horizontal running for a few laps around the cylinder, with peak forces during foot contact equivalent to 2-3 times Earth’s gravity. This intense physical activity would help prevent bone calcium resorption and maintain overall body condition. The researchers suggest that a training regime of running a few laps each day could be an effective countermeasure for astronauts to combat whole-body deconditioning during their missions on the moon.
The idea of running along the walls like Spiderman on the moon may seem unconventional, but it offers a practical solution to the challenges of staying fit in low gravity environments. By generating centrifugal acceleration through fast horizontal running in a cylinder, astronauts can simulate the effects of gravity and maintain their physical health and fitness during their time on the moon. This innovative approach could be a key component of future lunar missions, ensuring that astronauts are able to stay healthy and functional while exploring the lunar surface.
Overall, the concept of astronauts running along the walls on the moon offers a unique and effective way to address the challenges of low gravity on the human body. By engaging in this unconventional form of exercise, astronauts can prevent muscle, bone, and cardiovascular deconditioning, promoting overall health and fitness during their time on the moon. This research opens up new possibilities for maintaining astronaut health in space environments and demonstrates the importance of creative thinking in addressing the unique challenges of space exploration.
