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Spinoff story
Weightless “Weight”-Lifting Builds Muscle on Earth
A real-world story of NASA technology finding a life beyond the mission.
About this technology
Overview
Loss of bone density and muscle during long stays in zero gravity posed a dilemma without a clear solution: weights are useless in a weightless environment. Paul Francis was working on exercise equipment based on resistance rather than weight, called SpiraFlex, and answered NASA’s call for ideas. Francis worked with Johnson Space Center to build SpiraFlex FlexPacks into a system with up to 300 pounds of resistance. He’s now founded Kansas City, Missouri-based OYO Fitness to market the SpiraFlex-based DoubleFlex portable gym.