This timelapse shows ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet setting up the Mares muscle-measurement machine in Europe’s space laboratory Columbus on the International Space Station.

The Muscle Atrophy Research and Exercise System, or Mares for short, is a three-in-one muscle-measurement machine on the International Space Station that monitors astronauts’ muscles as they work out.

Muscle strength decreases during spaceflight and researchers need to know why this happens in order to prepare for long-duration missions and safe space tourism. Mares is an exercise bench that offers detailed information about how muscles behave during spaceflight.

Follow Thomas via http://thomaspesquet.esa.int/