Studying fitness in a weightless environment |Tomorrow Today

Scientists have developed a device that could help keep astronauts fit while they are in space. Studies show that living in the gravity-free conditions of space causes muscle and bone loss.Now a new vibration table could help prevent that. The astronaut's feet would be strapped to a vibrating plate, which has been shown to stimulate the muscles and bones. To assess the vibration table's suitability for use in space, the device was tested on board an aircraft whose parabolic flight-path briefly simulates micro-gravity. Join DW-TV reporter Cornelia Borrmann, who was on the flight.