What is Zero G Like?

An excess of anything is bad, even if it is something as fun as weightlessness. Space scientists have known that astronauts lose muscle mass and strength in space but latest research shows that it can get pretty bad. With no weight to bear upon the muscles, they start withering away. A six-month stay in space aboard the International Space Station can leave a 25-year old with the muscular strength of an 80-year old. Quite an occupational hazard for most jobs. It happens because of Zero G. Well, actually truth be told, zero gravity is actually a nonsensical term. Gravity exists even in space. If there was no gravity the earth would’ve drifted away from the Sun billions of years ago. The moon’s gravity causes tides.

Back to the deleterious effects of weightlessness; in space leg muscles are most severely affected by atrophy as they get almost no exercise. Even a 300-pound weight for exercising does not provide sufficient loading and the astronauts lose more muscle and lose it faster than they should. A far cry from the situation on earth; if I could squat 300 pounds I’d never wear trousers. The Interim Resistance Exercise Device, or iRED is a device cobbled up for the astronauts to help them save muscle mass.