New Space Harness Boosts Astronaut Fitness and Comfort

Rice Students’ Innovation Wins Top Award at Wearables Workshop

As NASA gears up for ambitious lunar and Martian missions, a new exercise harness developed by Rice University students promises to enhance astronaut well-being in the challenging environment of space.

Revolutionizing Space Workouts

A team of five Rice University engineering students has designed an innovative, customizable harness aimed at making exercise more effective and comfortable for astronauts. This next-generation equipment addresses key issues such as injury prevention and skin irritation, offering a significant upgrade from current systems.

The harness meticulously measures load distribution across pressure points like the shoulders and hips. This feature helps to mitigate injuries that can occur from body shifts and environmental changes, such as temperature and humidity fluctuations during workouts.

“This challenge gave us the freedom to innovate and explore possibilities beyond the current harness technology. I’m especially proud of how our team worked together to build a working prototype that not only has real-world impact but also provides a foundation that NASA and space companies can build and iterate upon. This makes the entire experience incredibly rewarding. It’s moments like these that remind me why I love designing with and for people.”

—Emily Yao, Rice Undergraduate Student

The breakthrough design was recognized with the Best Challenge Response Award at the 2025 Technology Collaboration Center’s (TCC) Wearables Workshop and University Challenge. This accolade highlights its potential to improve astronaut physical and mental health through its user-friendly and adaptable nature.

A Legacy of Space Exercise

The need for effective exercise in space has been recognized since the early days of space exploration. Early Gemini astronauts utilized off-the-shelf equipment to combat the effects of microgravity.

NASA later adopted the Exer-Genie Exerciser, a device consisting of a metal shaft and adjustable nylon rope, for the Apollo program starting with Apollo 7. This equipment allowed astronauts to perform over 100 exercises designed to preserve muscle mass and bone density.

While the Exer-Genie was equipped for all crewed Apollo missions from Apollo 7 through 17, its use was recorded on missions Apollo 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, and 16.

Paving the Way for Moon and Mars

This advancement comes at a critical time as NASA prepares for its Artemis program, aiming to return humans to the Moon and establish a sustainable presence there. These missions are crucial for testing technologies needed for future crewed expeditions to Mars.

Future lunar missions will involve enduring one-sixth Earth’s gravity, while Mars missions will contend with one-third gravity. Although not full microgravity, these reduced gravity environments still pose risks of muscle atrophy and bone loss, requiring robust countermeasures.

The International Space Station (ISS) currently experiences full microgravity, underscoring the ongoing need for advanced exercise solutions. Data suggests that astronauts on the ISS can lose between 1% and 2% of bone mineral density per month in their lower extremities without proper countermeasures. NASA

The enduring challenge for space agencies remains how to best support astronaut health during extended stays in reduced gravity. This new harness offers a promising step forward in that ongoing scientific endeavor.

As humanity pushes further into space, innovations like this student-designed harness will be vital for ensuring the health and success of future explorers.