U.S. NASA Mission X: Train Like an Astronaut program

Train Like an Astronaut program

The Global Childhood Obesity Prevention Program is working with the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as an official collaborative partner in its Global Mission X: Train Like an Astronaut program.

Mission X is an international health and fitness challenge for children. To date, it covers 29 countries worldwide. The project website provides games, handouts, journaling, videos and podcasts to introduce kids to 18 physical and educational activities adapted from actual exercises used by astronauts to prepare for space exploration.

Among these are hands-on exercises that promote strength training, core-building, muscle endurance and agility. Other activities help kids improve concentration, hand-eye reaction time, aerobic and anaerobic fitness, bone health and high energy levels, and, in general, promote a healthy life style.

Program Focus

The main program goals are:

  • To evaluate the effectiveness of the Mission X program
  • Develop new intervention programs
  • Help expand the program into other countries
  •  Increase program enrollment in the United States
  •  Train young researchers to study the causes measurement and prevention of childhood obesity.