Experiment to evaluate upper-body strength in zero-gravity - Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli was connected to Livorno business Kayserm Italia, in order to effectuate tests on the upper-body (and hands in particular) in a zero-gravity environment.
The live connection served to guide Nespoli in the instructions of a rigid scientific protocol that utilized the special equipment made by the Livorno business and installed aboard the international space station.
Nespoli, who is involved in a project commissioned by ASI (Italian space agency), followed the instructions of a strict agreement that investigates the measure to which astronauts undergo physical alterations while in orbit, in particular whether they lose strength in the absence of gravity or lose control of their movements.
Among the requirements of the experiment, Nespoli had to pick up objects, pretend to throw them and squeeze a type of spring.
All of these actions were recorded with a 'hand posture analyser' (HAP). All of the procedures were agreed upon by an international scientific team. Valfredo Zolesi, owner of Kayser Italia who stayed in live contact with the astronaut, said: "The objective of the test is to measure upper body strength in low gravity conditions".
Other participants included scientific research groups from the University Tor Vergata in Rome, university clinicians from the Pisa hospital and the rehabilitation centre in the Versilia hospital.
The results of the experiment will be used for medical-scientific studies dedicated to spinal lesions and muscular atrophy.
