Living in space is very different from living on Earth. In space, there is no gravity, which means our bodies can change in ways that are not good for us. Astronaut Sunita Williams knows how important it is to stay fit while she is in space. She works hard to keep her body strong and healthy during her time on the International Space Station (ISS).
Daily Exercise Routine
Sunita Williams wakes up at 6:30 a.m. and exercises for more than two hours every day. She does different types of workouts to stay fit. Some of her exercises are running on a treadmill, cycling on a special bike, and lifting weights with special machines made for space.
On the treadmill, Sunita wears bungee cords that hold her down so she does not float away while running. This helps her run like she would on Earth. For strength training, she uses a machine called the Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED). This machine helps her lift weights even when there is no gravity.
These exercises are very important because they help prevent problems that can happen when people spend a lot of time in space. Without exercise, astronauts can lose bone strength and muscle. By working out regularly, Sunita keeps her bones and muscles strong.
Amazing Achievements
Sunita Williams has done some amazing things while in space. In 2012, she ran a triathlon from the ISS! A triathlon is a race that includes running, cycling, and swimming. Since there is no water in space, she used the treadmill for running, the bike for cycling, and a special machine to pretend to swim. She finished the triathlon in just over one hour and 48 minutes! This shows how strong and determined she is.
Before that, Sunita also ran a marathon in space. A marathon is a long race of 26.2 miles. She used the treadmill while floating around Earth at very high speeds. To stay in place while running, she had to wear harnesses that kept her from floating away.
Benefits of Fitness in Space
Exercise is very important for all astronauts on the ISS. It helps them stay healthy by keeping their bones strong and their hearts working well. Working out also helps astronauts feel better mentally because it can be lonely and stressful to be in space for a long time.
Sunita has said that even though space travel can be hard, there are some nice things about it too. For example, her joints do not hurt in space because there is no pressure on them. This makes her feel good while she exercises.
Sunita Williams’ fitness routine shows how people can be strong and healthy even in tough situations. By exercising every day and doing incredible things like running races in space, she inspires others to stay active and healthy. Her hard work helps her stay fit during her missions and teaches us how to take care of our bodies, no matter where we are!
