It was certainly an incredible sight to close the month of April, as Tim Peake picked up the pace during his space marathon.
Peake took to the record books on marathon day to become the first man to complete a marathon in space. The astronaut completed the race in three hours, 35 minutes and 21 seconds – meaning he travelled twice around the planet!1
This brings us onto equipment supplier Life Fitness, which has equipped a brand new corporate gym at the European Centre for Space Applications and Telecommunications (ECSAT), the European Space Agency’s (ESA) first centre in the UK, based in Didcot, Oxfordshire.
To help with cardiovascular training needs, Life Fitness has installed durable, high-performance pieces from the Integrity series, including a treadmill, cross trainer and upright Lifecyle® bike, along with the Row GX™ trainer for a realistic rowing experience and full-body workout. Strength stations include the versatile Signature Series Dual Adjustable Pulley and Smith machine. This agreement between Life Fitness and the ESA builds on their existing relationship in the Netherlands.
The expansion of the ESA matches the increased importance given to space by the UK. The UK space industry is worth £11.3 billion to the UK economy and employs over 30,000 people in highly skilled jobs. This emphasis on space led to the expansion of the ECSAT, which was announced by the UK government in 2012. The centre has been growing ever since, with the opening of a new building in July 2015, which houses the corporate fitness facilities.
Sergio Vazzana, head of facility management at ECSAT, said, “Life Fitness was invited to tender within a multi-supplier process and we were impressed by their proven track record in providing quality fitness products and solutions. We believe that physical activity is an important component of a balanced life, which in turn is essential to maximise our emotional, intellectual and physical energies.”
