Hey Gang,
I came across a cool series of videos from the Canadian Space program and the ISS.
Check out the S&C program including strength training using the ARED (Advanced Resistive Exercise Device).
TAKU
Now, while I'm not saying that isn't a very cool piece of machinery, I wonder just how many fucking millions of dollars were spend developing that fucker, when they could have most (if not more) of the same shit with a simple 5 foot long bar and a lot of resistance bands? Seriously, for about a thousand bucks (okay, 2000 if you wanna throw in a specially made platform to attach all the bands to) I could have saved them a lot of money.
That's cool!
Hey CS,
The various space programs have struggled with this issue for years. The resistance band concept was visited for sure. Not sure if you noticed, but apparently some of what makes it (the ARED) seem so elborate is that it's movments must not impact anything around it (momentum, inertial forces etc). So some of the technology is really just to deal with this issue.
That being said, I had a similar thought when I first warched the vid. I was thinking couldnt they do that in a way that takes up far less space?
TAKU
Chocolate Shatner - Now, while I'm not saying that isn't a very cool piece of machinery, I wonder just how many fucking millions of dollars were spend developing that fucker, when they could have most (if not more) of the same shit with a simple 5 foot long bar and a lot of resistance bands? Seriously, for about a thousand bucks (okay, 2000 if you wanna throw in a specially made platform to attach all the bands to) I could have saved them a lot of money.
Kind of like that story (not sure if apocryphal or not) of how the US space program spent millions of dollars developing a pen that worked in space (since the ink was having issues due to the lack of gravity), and the Russians just used a pencil
Taku -
Hey CS,
The various space programs have struggled with this issue for years. The resistance band concept was visited for sure. Not sure if you noticed, but apparently some of what makes it (the ARED) seem so elborate is that it's movments must not impact anything around it (momentum, inertial forces etc). So some of the technology is really just to deal with this issue.
That being said, I had a similar thought when I first warched the vid. I was thinking couldnt they do that in a way that takes up far less space?
TAKU
I gotcha on the engineering challenges and safety issues, but I still just couldn't understand why they need all that. I mean, damn man.
in space i'd only masturbate...
In space, no one can hear you moan....
All of his videos are pretty amazing. 
MMA Yeah,
They are very cool videos.
TAKU
Wouldn't a bow flex power rod shit work just the same?
Hey andyman,
The typical power-rod system would not be space efficient.
Actually the bowflex folks did adopt a technology that was designed with the space program in mind. It's the spiralflex concept.
TAKU
Taku -Hey andyman,
The typical power-rod system would not be space efficient.
Actually the bowflex folks did adopt a technology that was designed with the space program in mind. It's the spiralflex concept.
TAKU
This is what I was thinking of. I thought the power rod had the tension wheel. My mistake.