Astronaut fitness programme is in progress

Wednesday 9/10/14, time 10:50 PM

I started with Ville Inkilä guidance the Astronaut fitness programme in May. Before fitness programme I took a test in Pajulahti May 23th. There were an ergometer exercise test for me and some other tests. In May my weight was 82.5 kg, my BMI (body mass index) was 25.5 and the fat percentage was 20.7 %. All of these values should be reduced during the fitness programme.

Now I have been training three months under Ville’s guidance. I report to him of all of the exercises I have done. The most important workouts have been gymnasium, bicycling and walking. We have seen each other in couple of weeks. I train 3-5 times a week. After three months training I feel that middle and lower body muscles are strengthened. Astronauts do not use these muscles much in space and they will be weak. That's why they need to be strengthened.

In the fitness programme there are series of tests measurements. We had one field test in August and I got the following results: back squat 95 kg, bench press 90 kg and 10 times chin ups. The fitness programme goes on and I tell more about in in my blog.

I have enclosed an example of my gymnasium training in August. You can try it if you wantJ. Ride also with bicycle 80-90 minutes. Gymnaisum training.pdf

Ville’s comment after the tests in August

“Considering Vesa’s age and exercise background, these results are encouraging and I will be extremely interested to see the rate of progress when we measure again after these parameters after this on-going period. “

Ice Bug Challenge Finland

Tuesday 8/26/14, time 9:52 PM

I took today Ice Bug Challenge. Virgin Galactic has challenged their customers. The idea behind this challenge is to raise money against ALS -disease. In United States they have got already $80 Million.

In Finland you can give your support to Lihastautiliitto.

Yes, it is a pit silly to pour ice water on you, and then make a video of it. But if you can increase awareness of the ALS -disease and get money for the research, I can do it.

More info in Finland:

www.lihastautiliitto.fi

Their video in Finnish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wVwgNSssj60

International pages:

http://www.alsa.org/fight-als/ice-bucket-challenge.html

Virgin Galactic video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beNXAv6K3zU&feature=youtu.be&list=UUlcvOr7LV8tlJwJvkNMmnKg

Benji jump 150 meters.

Thursday 8/14/14, time 9:02 PM

While I am waiting for my flight I do all the fun I can. I did jump 150 meters Benji in August 2014 at Helsinki, Finland. I had a camera attached to me so I got pictures from my jump.

Benji jump Helsinki, I just did jump from 150 meters.

Virgin Galactic will publish 7 books

Tuesday 8/5/14, time 10:18 PM

Virgin Galactic is a commercial company which idea is to make money. Virgin Galactic has been selling trips to the space since 2005 and now they are starting to publish books. Other products will soon follow. Think what kind of products are sold under Angry Birds-logo. The first book will be published this October. As far I know, Virgin Galactic is not going to sell any rocket-boxers. Luckily you can buy rocket-boxers from my shop.

More info about the books: Virgin Galactic books

More spaceports: Texas and Scotland

Monday 7/14/14, time 8:44 PM

Spaceport America is located in New Mexico in USA. It is ready and waiting for Virgin Galactic first customers. Many others want also take part of this new and growing business. Two new plans for spaceports are published. From spaceports you can send satellites and people to space.

SpaceX is planning to build it's own Spaceport in Texas. USA authorities have already given the permit for it. Exact time table is not yet published.

More information: Texas

There are also plans for spaceport in Scotland. It might be ready by 2018.

More information: Scotland

Astronaut Health Club has began

Friday 6/27/14, time 5:03 PM

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.

Ten years from the SpaceShioOne first spaceflight

Monday 6/23/14, time 6:56 AM

SpaceShipOne flow the first time to the space in June 21th, 2004. This flight and Virgin Galactic plans are new in many news:

FOX news 21.06.2014

FOX news 22.06.2014

CNN reporter saw how Virgin Galactic's rockets are built

Sunday 6/15/14, time 8:14 PM

Last Friday CNN published article about Virgin Galactic and how it's spaceships are built. Pictures and videos are really interesting.

http://edition.cnn.com/2014/06/13/tech/virgin-galactic-space-tourism-update/

Virgin Galactic got official permit to start space flights

Friday 5/30/14, time 1:01 PM

US Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) has given permit to Virgin Galactic to fly to space. This is a big milestone in the project. Virgin Galactic plans to start flights to space by the end of this year. According to BBC's article Virgin Galactic is 1-2 years ahead of its competitors.

More information:

http://www.bbc.com/news/business-27628476

Virgin Galactic's rocket motor fuel

Saturday 5/24/14, time 8:52 PM

Virgin Galactic's one of the biggest challenges has been to find a good rocket motor fuel. Virgin Galactic has tested two different types of rocket fuels to be used in their rocket motor. One fuel is based on rubber and another is based on polyamidi. Virgin Galactic has decided that in the future they will use polyamidi based fuel in their rocket motor. Virgin Galactic also promises that the test flights will continue after summer. The previous rocket motor powered test flight was in January 2014.

More information:

Virgin Galactic press release 23.05.2014.

Test video from rocket motor 08.05.2014.

Yuri's night in Tampere Lenin-museum 12.04.2014

Tuesday 4/15/14, time 9:38 PM

Lenin-museum in Tampere hold Yuri's night party. At the party Iina Kohonen did show cosmonauts pictures from 1957 to 1969. We saw also a film of that time. Persons with space suit on got in for free. Yuri himself visited the Lenin-museum in 1961. Absolutely fabolous night! Than for Lenin-museum for the party!

Yuri Gagarin -night April 12, 2014

Sunday 4/6/14, time 9:05 PM

In the next Saturday there will be many parties all over the word because of the anniversary of the Yuri Gagarin flight. The flight happened in April 12, 1961 and it did change the world. I will go myself to party at Tampere in Lenin -museum http://www.lenin.fi/ . I am planning to put my spacesuit on, because then you can join the party for free. If I would be at Los Angeles, then the party would take in place under the Space Shuttle Endeavourin. 

More info about Lenin -museum Yuri -night: http://aamulehti.menoinfo.fi/tampere

Branson in Simpsons

Tuesday 3/25/14, time 8:15 PM

In  Simpsons season no 25 mr Branson is in the picture in episone no 15. Where could I see it, it is not yet in Finland?

Twins will go to space - 700 tickets sold

Wednesday 3/5/14, time 9:05 PM

Virgin Galactic told today, that 700 tickets are sold. Tyler Winklevoss bought the ticket no 700 and his twin brother Cameron bought the next one. They will be the first twins in space.

http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/twins-in-space

Mr Branson says, that the flight will happen this year

Saturday 2/22/14, time 9:41 PM

In an article published Feb 21, Mr Branson says, that the flight will happen this year. He will fly with his children this year. There are published some critical articles about Virgin Galactic. The main concerns is, that the rocket motor is not powerful enough. What would be the best to convince, that to do the space flight?

http://www.theguardian.com/science/2014/feb/21/
richard-branson-first-virgin-galactic-space-flight

Pan Am started to sell flights to the moon 1968

Tuesday 2/18/14

Since Juri Gagarin times people believed that soon everyone could buy a flight to the space. Pan Am, an american airlines, started to sell flights to the moon in 1968. In that time you could reserve the flight without paying anything. In year 1991 Pan Am had 93 000 reservations. Them Pan Am went bankrupt and left fancy ticket as a memory for those one who made reservatitons:

Is the next test flight to the space?

Monday 2/10/14

Here is comparison between SpaceShipOne and SpaceShipTwo flights starting from the first glide flight. The fourth SpaceShipOne rocket flight went to space.

If SpaceShipTwo has the same test program, the first space flight can go to the space very soon.

Thorough article about NASTAR-center

Friday 1/31/14, time 9:05 PM

I found this article about NASTAR-center. I visited the center in September 2013 and I did the same drills.

http://www.popsci.com/node/133865/?cmpid=enews013014&spPodID=020&
spMailingID=6068058&spUserID=MzI1MzYxOTc2MTMS1&spJobID=363314033&
spReportId=MzYzMzE0MDMzS0

Video from the third rocket powered fligh

Wednesday 1/15/14, time 10:01 PM

Look at the video the rocket wings, there is now new cover which can take heat.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pwm3leZu-O0

Third rocket powered test flight is done!

Friday 1/10/14, time 11:55 PM

Today the third rocket powered test flight was completed. This time rocket was used 20 seconds and the top speed was Mach 1.4. The flight went well. Virgin Galactic target is to start commercial flights this year.

More information Virgin Galactic:

http://www.virgingalactic.com/news/item/
virgin-galactic-reaches-new-heights-in-third-supersonic-test-flight/

All Things Aero Com:

http://allthingsaero.com/space/space-tourism/
gallery-virgin-galactic-2013-year-in-review-blog-video