My personal Astronaut Health Club began by making a fitness test in order to see the level of my condition as it is now. The test was conducted in the leadership of Ari Hänninen in Pajulahti 23 May 2014. It was an ergometer exercise test, and I was to pedal the bike as long as I possibly could. I was able to load up to 210 watts, and the heart rate went up to 189. During this first visit they also took blood test, ECG and my body composition was analyzed. The fat percentage was 20.7 % and my BMI (body mass index) was 25.5 – both of these values are a little bit too high.

This was the beginning of about a six-months-program, which will be carried out under the guidance of Ville Inkilä, and it comprises a variety of exercises 3-5 times every week. It will make me regularly go to the gym, cycle and walk. I'll do the same exercises as the ESA's (European Space Agency) astronauts do. Should I by any chance accidentally end up being in a wrong rocket and having to spend a few months in space, it wouldn’t matter. Having completed this fitness program the body is in good shape for the space.

I will be reporting Ville via internet on the progress of the exercises. We will review and modify the program periodically and a variety of test will be made every now and then. The main test will be
in Pajulahti at the end of the year. At the beginning the following goals were set: ergometer bike exercise up to 280 watts, and body fat 15 % or below.

Vesa and ergometer at Pajulahti 23.05.2014

Feedback after ergometer. In the picture (from left) Ari Hännikäinen, Vesa and Ville Inkilä.