First Danish Man In Space Has A Very Peculiar Job

Denmark is set to send its very first man into space this week in a moment that the country is marking with pride, but it has emerged that he is going up to carry out a very specific and unusual job.

Andreas Mogensen will launch in a rocket to the International Space Station along with two companions, Russian Sergei Volkov and Kazakh Aidyn Aimbetov, and spend 10 days in space. During that time, he will carry out research work on a specially made exercise bike that has been designed to help astronauts exercise while they are in the zero-gravity.

Part of his duties will include testing the bike’s heart rate monitor, force-measuring pedals and its general effectiveness. The equipment has been built by the Danish Aerospace Company, which has been creating exercise equipment to be used in space since 2001. The bikes are designed not just to keep those on the International Space Station fit and healthy but to also ensure they don’t get bored or fall into depression.