Responsible Center: NASA JSC
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Unique ID: 16056
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Solicitation / Funding Source: Directed Research
Grant/Contract No.: Internal Project
Project Type: Ground
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TechPort: No |
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| Task Description: |
The Orion Flywheel (OFW) exercise device was selected to provide both resistance and aerobic (rowing ergometry) exercise for early Artemis missions to the Moon, lasting up to 21 days – which did not entail lunar surface extravehicular activities (EVAs). However, planned missions that will rely on the OFW as the sole exercise device have been extended to beyond 30 days in duration and will include lunar surface EVAs, which increase the performance demands on the crewmembers, and therefore the importance of the exercise device to protect against spaceflight-related deconditioning. The OFW provides speed-dependent exercise loads (known as isoinertial resistance) that are distinct from exercise loads provided by any other device that has been used in or developed for spaceflight, and only allows for a small number of resistance exercises. Other spaceflight exercise devices are designed to provide exercise loads that are comparable to well-studied, conventional gym-based exercise equipment (i.e., free weights, commercial cycles, rowing ergometers, and treadmills) and allow for a comprehensive range of resistance exercises. Additionally, the volume of OFW exercise that will be required of crewmembers on long-duration Artemis missions (30-60 minutes/day, 6 days/week) will exceed that used in previous ground-based flywheel studies. Therefore, understanding the efficacy of the novel OFW exercise device to be used as a comprehensive, stand-alone system will inform upcoming missing risk assessments and define future spaceflight exercise system designs.
NASA exercise scientists will collaborate with researchers from the University of Houston-Clear Lake to execute a controlled exercise intervention in free-living subjects to compare the OFW to conventional exercise equipment as well as to a "no-exercise". Subjects will be split into 3 exercise groups using 1of the three following exercise systems: the OFW only, free weights and a commercial rowing ergometer, or free weights plus a cycle and a treadmill. These exercise groups will follow an 8-week intervention, based on mission-like prescription concepts. A no-exercise control group will be included as a standard reference for adaptations to the exercise intervention across all exercise groups. Adaptations in functional performance, aerobic fitness, muscle strength and endurance, body composition, as well as metabolic and inflammatory responses, will be assessed between all study groups pre-intervention – and at the end of weeks 4 and 8 of the 8-week intervention – to discern any differences in these health and performance metrics across the study. Investigators hypothesize that limitations to the OFW as a comprehensive exercise system will be observed as decrements in upper body strength and functional task performance, and increases in inflammatory responses and subjective ratings of muscle soreness or discomfort in subjects using only the OFW for 8 weeks, compared to those using free weights and commercial aerobic exercise hardware. All subjects are expected to show improvements in outcome measures relative to the no-exercise control subjects.
In summary, understanding the adaptive response to exercise on this unique system will inform NASA human system risk recommendations for Lunar Design Reference Missions (DRMs), as well as exercise capability needs for future missions and vehicles. Near-term answers on OFW efficacy are critical, due to the expanding reliance of exploration programs on this custom device and the approach of crewed Artemis missions. |
| Research Impact/Earth Benefits: |
The Orion Flywheel is currently the sole exercise countermeasure system that is planned to be available on early Artemis missions. Testing the efficacy of the Orion Flywheel for protecting physical performance is necessary to ensure that the device provides adequate aerobic and muscular stimulus over an extended use period.
Understanding the adaptive response to exercise on this novel system will inform risk assessments for early Artemis missions, as well as exercise capability needs for future missions and vehicles. Near-term answers on Orion Flywheel efficacy are critical, due to the expanding duration of use/reliance of exploration programs on this custom device and the approach of crewed Artemis missions. |
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