Exercise Equipment Usability Assessment for a Deep Space Concept Vehicle

A deep space concept vehicle created from a core stage barrel section of the Space Launch System rocket has been designed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration for use in future manned Mars missions. The spacecraft, known as the Space Launch System-Derived Habitat, features a dedicated space for exercise equipment. A human factors assessment was performed to determine whether or not the exercise area has adequate volume for multiple microgravity exercise machines to be used by multiple crew members simultaneously. It was determined that in its current design the exercise area does not have adequate volume to house the machines required for bone and muscle maintenance as required for long-duration spaceflight missions. It was recommended that the volume either be vastly expanded or dissolved entirely in favor of multiple, smaller exercise volumes that could each house one machine