Hazen, Kat2024-06-182024-06-182023-06-15https://hdl.handle.net/1794/2952895 pagesAs we look to the stars and dream of the next frontier in space exploration, we must not forget the human element. Even with the most advanced tools and technology, long-distance exploration of our universe will not be possible until we find ways for the human body to better live and function in the harsh conditions of space. To find such solutions, scientists look to the International Space Station (ISS), where hundreds of astronauts have had the opportunity to live and work in a microgravity environment while orbiting around the Earth (Wild, 2020). Though humans have populated the space station for over twenty consecutive years, the longest consecutive stay of an individual human is only 355 days, which was completed by NASA astronaut Mark Vande Wei in 2021-2022 (Howell, 2022). Through studying astronauts on the ISS, researchers know that after prolonged periods of time in microgravity, human bodies undergo many changes which pose a danger to astronaut health and limits the amount of time humans can stay in space (Mars, 2022). The muscles of the feet and legs are particularly impacted in a microgravity environment. Without the force of gravity to provide resistance, the muscles and bones in the back and lower limbs rapidly deteriorate. This leads to issues such as muscle weakness, bone loss, and balance problems. To counteract muscle atrophy and bone density loss, astronauts on the ISS dedicate two and a half hours to exercising each day to make up for the twenty-one and a half hours that their body is not experiencing physical activity. Astronauts follow personal workout regimen that is prescribed to them and monitored by a team back on Earth (Bowen,2018). However, even with this meticulous effort to keep their muscles stimulated, astronauts still lose 1% of their bone density per month in space (Canadian Space Agency, 2019). Another way that the feet are affected by microgravity is that the nerves of the feet become hyper-sensitive in space without the underfoot stimulation of standing and walking. While the bottom of the feet is under stimulated, the tops of the feet are being used in a completely new way on the space station. Astronauts hook their feet under metal rails to anchor themselves in one place or to get around the space station. The top of their feet gets sore and eventually callous over due to being used in a completely new way (Pomeroy, 2017). Because of this, astronauts can have foot pain that lasts for months after returning to Earth (Harrington, 2016). Mitigating these issues is paramount for astronaut health and the ability to plan future space travel. Surprisingly, despite the significant foot and leg issues that astronauts experience during and after their missions, there has not been much innovation regarding footwear to wear inside the space station that could help stimulate nerves, activate muscles, and protect the feet.en-USCreative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0-USastronautsspaceastronaut footwearInternational Space StationISSTerminal Project