Mohler SR, Nicogossian AE, McCormack PD, Mohler SR.
Aviat Space Environ Med. 1988 May; 59: 489.
Wright State Univ, Sch. of Med., Dayton, OH 45435, USA.
INTRODUCTION. We analyzed combined Gy and Gz accelerations from space vehicle flight recorders and human centrifuge data (IAF-IAA-87-531). The results bear on setting limits for accelerations within the 6 degrees of freedom in spacecraft operations, especially as related to tumbling. METHODS. Further data have been acquired on the spaceflight anomaly of tumbling, including those from the flight of Gemini 8. In addition to (+) Gy or (-) Gy during tumbling, crewmembers receive (-) Gz above waist and (+) Gz below. Full data, including time and directional magnitudes (roll, pitch and yaw) of the Gemini 8 anomaly, involving a 55 s tumble at 300 degrees/s due to a stuck-open thruster, has been evaluated by the authors. RESULTS. For 55 s during orbit, the two crewmembers revolved at 50 RPM, receiving (-) Gz of 0.89, with one receiving (+) Gy of 0.92 and the other (-) Gy of 0.92. At 75 RPM these levels would increase to (-) Gz of 1.99 and Gy of 2.06, reaching 3.55 for (-) Gz and 3.68 for Gy at 100 RPM. These correlate with human tolerances of 175 s at 75 RPM and 10 s at 100 RPM. The (+) Gz component on the lower half of the body has been added to the analysis. CONCLUSIONS. The data provide the physiologic basis for setting spacecraft tumbling limits for designers. These will be lower for microgravity adapted persons. In addition to the fail-safe limits for thrusters, fault-display information identifying for the crew the specific location of a thruster system failure can be incorporated in spacecraft designs.
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acceleration
- Animals
- Centrifugation
- Humans
- Space Flight
- Spacecraft
- Weightlessness
- NASA Center HQS
- NASA Discipline Clinical Medicine
- Non-NASA Center
Other ID:
UI: 102237295
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