Cutting edge exercise and fitness gurus from Twickenham and Teddington have joined the space race.

A team from the area is at the centre of a scientific breakthrough, which could revolutionise the way astronauts exercise in space, Nub News can reveal today.

Former aircraft engineer and pilates teacher, John Kennett, who is based in Teddington, has invented a 'jumping' machine, which helps astronauts counter loss of muscle and bone density during space flight.

And his invention will be tested in zero gravity conditions for the first time in France this week with the support of both British and European space agencies.

John built his device in partnership with film special effects experts, Dominic Tuohy and Vince Abbott, whose many movie credits include Star Wars.

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.

The team have transported the machine from John's small Teddington studio to the Bordeaux test base, operated by Novespace, where an aircraft has been turned into a flying laboratory.

On board the test flight will be a team of experts and athletes from St Mary's University, Twickenham.

They include lead scientist Dr Daniel Cleather, who is a nationally renowned expert in physical performance, who has worked with Olympic and world champions.

Strength and conditioning expert, Dr Phil Price, is also involved in managing and monitoring the trials.

They will be joined by astronaut fitness expert, Dr Nora Petersen, as well as physiotherapist and elite triathlete, Becky Owen,

Aerospace physiologist and reserve Army officer, Tess Morris-Paterson, a former Teddington resident, will be the first person to jump repeatedly in zero gravity conditions.

Inventor John has linked up with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the UK Space Agency, which has funded the Bordeaux trial. It will test the prototype of his machine in zero gravity conditions during a Parabolic Flight Campaign aboard an Airbus 310 called Airzero G.

Shortly before the test flights, John told Nub News: "We have a phenomenal team, all unique and each bringing something special to make our group not only well prepared, but good fun too."

The aircraft has been converted into a flying laboratory and performs a roller coaster series of arcs, which each produce a stomach-churning 22 seconds of zero gravity.

In total, each test flight will give more than 11 minutes in zero gravity. With more test flights due on Wednesday and Thursday a total 34 minutes of zero gravity will experienced.

These arc – or parabolic - flights are the only way to test microgravity with humans without going through lengthy astronaut-training and flights to the International Space Station.

Amputee and former Royal Marine, Lee Spencer, who lost a leg in an accident, will make history as the first 'parastronaut' to test the jump machine in zero gravity.

Lee, who visited the studios in Teddington to put the machine through its paces, told Nub News that it be useful in exercise and rehabilitation on earth.

"I can see it having a great place in exercise programmes as it allows you to do workouts such as squat jumps and leg presses. As an amputee these are very difficult and can cause stress to travel through the stump," said Lee, who has set multiple rowing records.

"It gives a good cardiovascular workout too, so I'm keen to see the machine progressing and providing a great opportunity for amputee veterans."

John worked as an aeronautical engineer with British Airways before retraining as a sports therapist and injury rehab specialist.

"Research has shown that jumping vastly improves muscle and bone density but the machines currently on the space station cannot be used for that," he said.

"The HIFIm is a multi-gym piece of equipment so would take up less space and weight than existing machines and would give astronauts a more complete work-out in a much shorter time."

On board the International Space Station astronauts exercise for 2 hours per day, 6 days a week to mitigate the effect of zero gravity on their body.

John's multi-exercise countermeasure equipment aims to reduce this to between 10 and 30 minutes of exercise per day and replace all the current exercise machines on board the International Space Station with just HIFIm, which is designed for the Lunar space station, Gateway and Lunar and Martian bases.

See the amazing clip of HIFIm exercise machine on board the flying laboratory.