How Astronaut Workouts Keep Hearts Strong for Mars
A study of 13 space travellers reveals that daily two-hour workouts keep the human heart strong and ready to explore Mars without dizziness.
Can you imagine running on a treadmill while floating high above our planet? On 20 October 2026, medical scientists in the United States shared exciting news about 13 brave space travellers who spent months aboard the International Space Station. The researchers discovered that daily astronaut heart workouts keep the human heart surprisingly fit and energetic during long journeys in zero gravity.
The study was published in the medical journal Circulation by doctors from Northwestern Medicine, UT Southwestern Medical Center, and UTHealth Houston. The medical team was led by Dr. James Thomas, Dr. Benjamin Levine, and Dr. Michael Bungo, who closely studied how the body adapts to months in space. Their discoveries offer major reassurance for future crews preparing to land on the surface of Mars.
What happened?
In outer space, there is almost no gravity pulling on an astronaut’s body. Blood and other fluids float upwards into the chest and head instead of settling down towards the feet. Because the heart does not need to fight gravity to push blood upward, it works much less than it does on Earth. Over a long mission, this lack of exercise can cause heart muscles to shrink, which can lead to severe dizziness when landing back on a planet.
To protect their health, the 13 astronauts followed a strict routine called NASA’s “Exercise Countermeasures” programme. The crew exercised for up to two hours every single day while orbiting Earth. Their schedule included 30 to 45 minutes of aerobic endurance training, such as pedalling an exercise bicycle or running on a treadmill with stretchy bungee cords pulling them down. They also completed 60 to 75 minutes of resistance strength training to work their muscles.
During their six-month stays, the crew members monitored their bodies closely. Astronauts took turns performing echocardiogram ultrasound scans on each other’s hearts in orbit, guided live through a video link by Dr. Thomas in Chicago.
When doctors examined the astronauts, they tested how their bodies handled simulated Martian gravity, which is about one-third as strong as gravity on Earth. The results showed that the astronauts’ hearts adapted without dangerous drops in blood pressure or cardiovascular distress. This proves that future explorers will be able to land on Mars and begin exploring immediately without collapsing. Furthermore, doctors noted that these workout routines can also help hospital patients on Earth recover strength after long periods of resting in bed.
Why does it matter to you?
Even if you are sitting in a classroom in India today, this space study carries an important message for your daily health. Your heart is an amazing pump, and just like any other muscle, it requires regular movement and exercise to stay strong and healthy.
Whether you are playing football or skipping rope, staying active builds your stamina. Additionally, space agencies around the world are planning exciting round trips to Mars. One day, students from your generation might join these journeys, and sticking to good fitness routines will ensure you can explore new worlds safely!
Words to know
- Zero gravity: The weightless condition in space where things float freely because gravity is not pulling them against a surface.
- Aerobic training: Steady physical exercise, such as cycling or running, that speeds up your breathing and heart rate.
- Resistance training: Exercises where your muscles push or pull against weights or stretchy bands to grow stronger.
- Echocardiogram: A safe medical scan that uses sound waves to create moving pictures of a beating heart.
Did you know?
Gravity on Mars is only about one-third as strong as Earth’s gravity, meaning that if you weigh 30 kilograms on Earth, you would feel like you weigh only about 10 kilograms on Mars!
Think about it
If you were an astronaut heading on a two-year journey to Mars, how would you make your daily two-hour workout fun? How does moving your body during sports or play help you feel more energetic during school?
Quick quiz
How much time did the astronauts spend exercising each day aboard the space station?
- Up to 30 minutes
- Up to two hours
- Four hours
See the answer
Up to two hours
Sources
This story was prepared by the Kids Gazette news desk with the help of AI research and writing tools, using the sources listed above.
