Major Research Campaigns

Collaborative Research with Global Space Agencies

Since 2015, the lab has contributed to a series of internationally recognised spaceflight analogue campaigns in partnership with ESA, NASA, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), and the UK Space Agency (UKSA). These campaigns replicate aspects of the space environment—such as microgravity, partial gravity, or prolonged bedrest—to study human physiological adaptation and evaluate potential countermeasures.

Key Campaigns

First Inter-Agency Partial Gravity Parabolic Flight Campaign (2018): This campaign brought together multiple space agencies to investigate human responses to reduced gravity levels using parabolic flight. Our team's specific contribution investigated the effects of reduced gravity on spinal neuromuscular adaptation and postural control.

AGBRESA (Artificial Gravity Bedrest Study, 2019): Jointly sponsored by ESA and NASA, AGBRESA tested artificial gravity as a potential integrated countermeasure. As one of only six European teams selected, the lab’s involvement focused on spinal neuromusculoskeletal adaptations to prolonged exposure to simulated microgravity.

BRAVE (Artificial Gravity with Resistive Vibration Exercise, 2024–25): This ESA bedrest campaign explored how combining artificial gravity and vibration exercise influences musculoskeletal and cardiovascular health. Our specific investigations within this campaign looked at spinal neuromusculoskeletal, postural and walking gait adaptations to prolonged exposure to simulated microgravity.

85th ESA Microgravity Parabolic Flight Campaign (2024): Following investigation of ESA's novel European Enhanced Exploration Exercise Device (E4D) using the lab's VGSS microgravity analogue platform, our team led a technology demonstration of E4D to support a subsequent in-orbit E4D technology demonstration aboard the International Space Station.

CSA Parabolic Flight Campaign (2024): Our lab collaborated with the Canadian Space Agency in demonstrating the feasibility of performing blood flow restriction during flywheel exercise in simulated microgravity on parabolic flights.

From Ground-Based to In-Flight Research

The laboratory’s participation in these campaigns has built a robust foundation for in-flight technology demonstration. In 2025, the Personalised Tourniquet System for Spaceflight (PTSS)—a product of our collaborative development work—was launched aboard SpaceX’s FRAM2 mission for its first orbital evaluation. Not only was this the first ever time that blood flow restriction exercise had been performed in space, but the mission was also the first to see exercise officially performed aboard the SpaceX Dragon capsule.  This milestone represents a major transition from analogue validation to space-based implementation, showcasing the lab’s capability to move research from concept to flight.