Just wanted to let folks know that Erwan Le Corre and myself have been invited to speak at NASA! The event will happen at the Wyle Laboratories adjacent to the Johnson Space Center on October 29th. The topic will likely be “Can an Evolutionary perspective on training and nutrition benefit astronauts in long duration space flight?”
We will consider some of the similar mechanisms of the muscle and bone loss associated with hyperinsulinsim and microgravity space flight while offering suggestions in training, nutrition and lifestyle strategies that may benefit astronauts.
So…obviously I’m a complete fracking geek but this is one of the most exciting things I have ever done! As a kid I always watched replays of the Apollo missions and watched every shuttle launch on TV regardless of the time it went up. I think a combination Star Trek (love me some Will Shatner!) and NASA activities inspired me to pursue science.
It MAY be possible for us to admit a few folks for this event, not 100% sure on that yet. If we are able to do that I’ll post a sign-up link as details come in.
Mark R. says
So cool Robb! Congrats!
David Csonka says
There is a space center in Florida too… just saying. 😀
Nobie says
This is Awesome!!!!!! A geek’s dream!
B3nj4m1n says
Contests Robb! If NASA uses Paleo in Space maybe it will catch on like Tang.
Robb Wolf says
I remember Tang! We can only hope paleo will be fractionally as popular.
Steven says
Holy Cats!
That is freaking awesome.:) The geek in me would so love to be there. Hopefully this will get posted somewhere so we can see it.
Very happy for you.
WV=1
Nick Cruz says
Clean & Jerk’s in space…the final frontier.
Jason says
How long does chicken and yams in a tube keep?
Robb Wolf says
I suspect way too long.
Chris B says
Holy cats, dude! That is SO COOL! I hope you have the time of your life.
(And like David C says – there’s a Space Center in Florida too!)
Jordan M. says
Congrats!! That may just be the coolest thing ever! I’m so excited for you guys!! A video feed or replay feature would be AWESOME if available. You have officially reached the pinnacle of geek stardom! At least until they start discussing paleo in the future Star Trek movies!
Justin says
I heard this rumor from one of the astronaut trainers looking forward to the presentation!
Stephen J. Yanczura says
Awesome Robb!
I used to be an intern in Houston for a couple semesters at a NASA contractor down there (right down the road from where you’ll be speaking).
Make sure you get some smoked beef brisket!
-Stephen
Robb Wolf says
Brisket-CHECK!!
SilverDragon says
Oh man, oh man… I was so hooked on Star Trek and Apollo that my undergrad degree is in Aeronautics and Astronautics (at a time when USA spending on such was nose-diving). You ROCK!!
Robb Wolf says
That is bad-ass! thanks!
Jamie Guined says
Glad to see you’re excited about it Robb! I also noticed that word is starting to get around (comment from Justin above…I’m guessing he’s referring to one of the ASCRs–Astronaut Strength, Conditioning, and Rehabilitation Specialists). Nice. This is going to be phenomenal. Bring your camera, extra SD cards, plenty of battery charge time.
Jamie
Jake says
One of the biggest issues they are worried about is bone loss due to weightlessness. You can be a big help to them by showing how the paleo diet will help minimize bone loss.
Robb Wolf says
Jake-
I just have some ideas, not sure if they will work.
Squatchy says
High five, that’s awesome!
Maybe Paleo Brands will start making some freeze dried grass-fed beef coconut milk curries? Mmmmm….delicious 🙂
Kristen says
This is super exciting for you!
Any chance at convincing you to give a seminar in Houston around that time? I’m sure my box and others in the area can pull together enough people for one.
Robb Wolf says
Kristen-
We could certainly look into that.
Meri says
This ain’t happening! 😀 If only the cavemen were here to see… Sigh. 🙂
Rhuey31 says
Glad Jamie could get you guys there! Can’t wait!!!!
Beau says
Robb,
Mark Rippetoe covered this topic not long ago, well the barbell training side of things in space.
That guy has been answering questions too long when this topic has been covered.
Check it out:
http://startingstrength.com/resources/forum/showthread.php?t=18504&highlight=astronauts
Jamie Guined says
He makes good points…however…what he [Rippetoe] didn’t know at the time he posted this thread is that we were already looking into something similar to what he describes in his posts. I actually take some of what was said a little personal, as not all of us Exercise Scientists at NASA are “idiots,” myself being one of them. There is so much red tape to cut through at NASA to even get to the point where you can actually research the question(s) you’re asking, that it sometimes takes several years before a study comes to fuition. Given the operational constraints of the space station (up until about 2 years ago), we were limited as to what types of exercise countermeasures could actually be performed. Many things have to be taken into consideration when designing a piece of flight hardware, one of the major things being the amount of force that will be imparted to the Station during use. There is actually a lot more that goes on behind the scenes than meets the eye. Right now, we are moving in a positive direction with great research…including extended bed rest as a ground analog to spaceflight. Optimizing the health and functionality of our astronauts is our primary concern. Check out some of the links below:
http://hacd.jsc.nasa.gov/projects/ecp.cfm
http://ston.jsc.nasa.gov/collections/TRS/_techrep/TP-2006-213717.pdf
I’m very excited to have Robb & Erwan visit us in October, as I am sure there presentation(s) will be most beneficial.
Ad Astra!
Jamie
Beau says
Thanks Jamie. Interesting links. Hope you all find something that works and I’m glad it didn’t take Mean Old Mr Rip to figure out a way to strength train in space.
I don’t know all the constraints you have at NASA but I certainly understand what red tape is all about.
Good Luck with this project.
TPSW says
I have only been viewing your site starting this week and this is the first time I have commented here. I apologize that a first comment is to ask a favor.
I would love to have the opportunity to hear the two of you speak. I worked at JSC for 17 years in Information Resources before leaving Aerospace for the Healthcare industry. I am trying to work it from my old contacts to get in, but if I cannot make it happen I would be so thrilled if you could make it happen.
Besides, having the self applied pressure of having to face gentlemen of your eminent stature might help me quit being a slacker and stay on target for the month preceding.
Regards,
TPSW – dianne
Robb Wolf says
sounds good!
TPSW says
This was the first time I had ever asked for a favor from someone like you and now I find that I will be in DC over that time period. I had gotten to a point where it looked like I would get in but, Boo, I will be gone.
Robb Wolf says
We will be back!
JB says
From someone in the space biz it comes as some surprise that they’re thinking so “outside the box.” My cynicism aside it would be great to demonstrate the value of an evolutionary lens in seemingly disparate segments of science and technology.
I’ve come to believe that the ultimate expression of knowledge in an area is synthesis. I think you, Robb, stand quite apart from the field in your level of synthesis of novel and important hypotheses. Now if I can find your equal in the strength and conditioning side of things my encyclopedia collection would be complete!
Robb Wolf says
JB-
Very kind, thank you.
JB says
It occurs to me now that the S&C knowledge comment may have seemed like a slight against your S&C background, not my intent. My intended point was that there isn’t anyone (that I know of) producing such an accessible website, podcast, and book on the subject.
gary martins says
grats dude!
gary martins says
congrats dude!
Adel says
Robb, this is incredibly cool. Please please please keep us posted on what the outcomes were / how you were received / how you and Erwan address those particular challenges of no gravity… It’s not like our antecedents had to deal with that happy fact of space, so: interesting, indeed. Thanks!
Robb Wolf says
thanks!
I’m just tackling this from the perspective that weightlessness and metabolic syndrome both amount to wasting conditionings. Hopefully some overlap exists in the remedy.
Michael Gold says
Robb: FYI, this place http://snapkitchen.com/ is in Houston: http://www.snapkitchen.com/index.php/site/locations/snap_kitchen_houston/
I’m eating one of their meals right now. I’ve picked up a few meals there; good stuff.
jared maidenberg says
Robb, hey man looking forward to seeing you here in Houston and have a group of peeps coming out to see you and Erwann at NASA as well! My lil girl lives right by NASA (across the big field full of grazing grassfed cows btw) by the Rocket Museum so I know exactly where you guys will be and stoked to see you both and hear this lecture! Cheers mate and keep up teh great work, people are starting to ‘wake up’! 🙂
Robb Wolf says
Awesome Jared! See you soon!