A Teddington-based pilates teacher is attending the prestigious International Space Centre research and development conference in Washington DC to showcase his invention, which is designed to help astronauts exercise in space. 

The ground-breaking system known as HIFIm, which is based upon jumping, has been created and built in the pilates studios in Teddington's High Street next to the Royal British Legion HQ.

The High Frequency Impulse for Microgravity (HIFIm) jump machine allows astronauts to perform a range of exercises including controlled squat jumps, that are regarded as the most efficient way of promoting bone and muscle strength.

Former engineer John Kennet has been partnered by St Mary's University Twickenham and Professor Daniel Cleather and Dr Phil Price. 

John told Nub News: "It has been an absolute pleasure meeting the NASA team at the booth during this Conference. We have had great conversations with the team and also we had the pleasure of sharing a table during a lunch session. 

"To be here in person has been brilliant and the knowledgable NASA team at the booth have been incredibly welcoming and are true ambassadors for this conference: In fact, the whole conference has been exciting and super receptive to two Brits presenting the awesome HIFIm, the next generation of astronaut multi-exercise countermeasure. " 

During his visit John is having high-level discussions with other space stations which have expressed an interest in deploying the HIFIm technology.