Team Gregg Partners with NASA for Zero Gravity Training Research

FasterSkier · April 1, 2016

Husband and wife Brian (r) and Caitlin Gregg recently signed an agreement with NASA to conduct a series of training blocks at zero gravity starting in June.

Brian and Caitlin Gregg of Team Gregg have penned an agreement with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to conduct a series of training blocks at zero gravity. Extensive research has been completed on the benefits of high-altitude training, but very little is known about the effects of space on endurance performance.

“We have found success with blocks of training at altitude and when the opportunity to explore a partnership with NASA came up we decided to look in to it,” Caitlin said. “We both have always wanted to travel to space. Although, we still have a lot of steps to take before the trip to the International Space Station (ISS).”

The ISS orbits about 200-250 miles above the earth and at that altitude, Earth’s gravity is about 90 percent of what it is on the planet’s surface.

Caitlin Gregg during NASA's initial testing in a microgravity pool earlier this week in Florida. (Courtesy photo) — Caitlin Gregg during NASA’s initial testing in a microgravity pool earlier this week in Florida. (Courtesy photo)

The Greggs were reached in Florida, where they are conducting initial testing and training with the astronauts in their specialized pool, which simulates micro gravity.

“The pool is really quite a strange feeling,” Caitlin explained. “The greatest challenge will be not losing too much speed, since all movements are so slow.”

“Water is relatively dense fluid and is available in huge quantity, so we can simulate microgravity in a pool by putting an astronaut into a suit and adjusting that suit’s weight until it neither floats nor sinks — making it neutrally buoyant,” explained resident scientist Kumar Harshit. “Once neutral buoyancy is established all the objects can move freely as in micro-gravitational field. The pool used to train astronauts for spacewalk at ISS, is 202 feet long, 101 feet wide, and 40 feet deep. Equipment which have higher density are covered by Styrofoam.”

Brian is of particular interest for NASA in this endeavor as he is a twin. His brother Chad will be monitored before, after, and during the study to help quantify the effects of space on the body.

The extended family that is Team Gregg, with Brian and Caitlin in green, and Brian's twin brother Chad (second from r) along with parents Jim and Jan (left and second from l), and Chad's wife Alieta Gregg (r) in 2013 in West Yellowstone, Mont. — The extended family of Team Gregg, with Brian and Caitlin in green, and Brian’s twin brother Chad (second from r) along with parents Jim and Jan (left and second from l), and Chad’s wife Alieta (r) in 2013 in West Yellowstone, Mont.

“Concept2 has actually designed a specialized travel SkiErg that we will be bringing with us to the space station for our training,” Brian said.

This exercise tool will remain on the space station for all to use and has the Russians in particular excited.

Initially one of the sticking points for the agreement was that the Greggs’ dog Lahti need to be able to join them for the trips.

“We spend a lot of time away from him and I have really been looking forward to spending time with him,” Caitlin said.

NASA conceded to let the pup join them to the space station, but were unable to agree to the costs and risks of bringing him home. Ultimately the Greggs decided to leave Lahti at home.

If everything goes smoothly the Greggs will be looking at some super-high altitude time at zero gravity in the beginning of June after completing an on-snow training camp in Bend, Ore. The ISS camp would be 12 days with another possible camp in early August where they will look to avoid the high temperatures and humidity of the dog days of summer.

“This is truly and exciting opportunity and their are still a lot of unknowns. We should know a lot more by tomorrow, April 2,” Brian said.