Olympic rower tests zero‑gravity gym that could cut astronaut workouts to 30 minutes

TL;DR An Olympic rower tried a zero‑gravity gym that could cut astronaut exercise time to 30 minutes a day. The HIFIm device can run 300 exercises without needing electrical power.

The flight mimics the microgravity astronauts experience, giving researchers a brief window to test equipment. Wells is part of a global effort to build fitness gear for future moon bases and space stations.

Current astronauts on the International Space Station spend about two hours each day exercising to counter muscle and bone loss. The European Space Agency, NASA, the Canadian Space Agency and the UK Space Agency have all supported the testing, including providing the parabolic flights.

The HIFIm (High‑Frequency Impulse for Microgravity) system could reduce daily astronaut workout time to 30 minutes, according to its developers. Its inventor, John Kennett, notes the compact unit can handle 300 different exercises.

Kennett adds that the device works without electricity and isolates vibrations so it does not disturb sensitive experiments or the spacecraft structure.

By cutting exercise from two hours to 30 minutes, crews could devote more hours to experiments, maintenance or rest.

The technology also addresses launch mass limits because HIFIm is lightweight and power‑free. If validated, such gear could become standard on Artemis missions and future lunar habitats. Engineers will next run HIFIm through longer parabolic campaigns and seek opportunities for orbital demonstration flights.