Tuesday, November 8th, 2011

How to Keep fit on Mars

While you and I live in cyber space

some people are preparing for life in outer space– target Mars. In Russia six recently emerged men lived in cramped, windowless compartments for more than 17 months to simulate a mission to Mars. On the American front, the Mars Institute has created two drive-able Mars Rovers, with mechanical arms for the human exploration of Mars. These rovers explore a Mars-like 18-mile-wide asteroid crater. It’s on Canada’s Devon Island, in the high arctic. This, the largest uninhabited island in the world sports a bizarre “arctic desert” that looks like, and is about as inviting as, Mars itself.

These researchers live the life of real-life astronauts by simulating what it would be like to explore Mars. This means being confined for days and sometimes weeks in the cramped pressurized cabin of their Mars rovers.

But how to keep fit when there is little or no gravity? Muscles quickly wither and atrophy with no use. Some astronauts have experienced severe re-entry problems, collapsing upon encountering earth’s gravity.

Pascal Lee, chief researcher for the Mars Institute and crew are aware and working on that problem. Light weight and portability are a must because very ounce of cargo launched into outer space costs a fortune. Exercise devices must also work in zero gravity since the gravitational pull is much less on Mars. No free weights allowed in space. The entire body must also be exercised even in cramped quarters. Some astronauts do isometric exercises, but Mr. Lee is trying something new, an isometric and resistance based mechanical exerciser called the kinesthetic exerciser for transforming yourself – or  simply: kefty.

Mr Lee isn’t the only space explorer to recognize device’s utility. Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner, obtained the research exerciser at this year’s GBK Oscars gifting suite. His comment,” This is great. I can use it for my back”.

Just back from the arctic, the Mars Institute crew successfully used the kefty to keep in shape while in the confines of their Mars Rover on Devon Island. Being just a stones throw from the North Pole. perhaps Old Saint Nick himself may be using the kefty to trim that famous holiday paunch he’s been sporting. Just kidding- maybe.

The Kefty is new and patented. It was invented by Nick Musachio of St. Paul , Minnesota. The Kefty is made and manufactured in America. It is hypo-allergenic, and has been designed using human factors and ergonomics to be used by wheelchair users. It is made of high impact polymers and has variable resistance from 0-60 lbs.  More at http://kefty.com/