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At least 595 records · Page 33

On-Orbit Prospective Echocardiography on International Space Station Crew

Introduction A prospective trial of echocardiography was conducted on of six crewmembers onboard the International Space Station. The main objective was to determine the efficacy of remotely guided tele-echocardiography, including just-in-time e-training methods and determine what "space normal" echocardiographic data is. Methods Each crewmember operator (n=6) had 2-hour preflight training. Baseline echocardiographic data were collected 55 to 167days preflight. Similar equipment was used in each 60-minute in-flight session (mean microgravity exposure - 114 days (34 -- 190)). On Orbit ultrasound operators used an e-learning system within 24h of these sessions. Expert assistance was provided using ultrasound video downlink and two-way voice. Testing was repeated 5 to 16 days after landing. Separate ANOVA was used on each echocardiographic variable (n=33). Within each ANOVA, three tests were made: a) effect of mission phase (preflight, in-flight, post flight); b) effect of echo technician (two technicians independently analyzed the data); c) interaction between mission phase and technician. Results Nine rejections of the null hypothesis (mission phase or technician or both had no effect) were discovered and considered for follow up. Of these, six rejections were for significant technician effects, not as a result of space flight. Three rejections of the null hypothesis (Aortic Valve time velocity integral, Mitral E wave Velocity and heart rate) were attributable to space flight, however determined not to be clinically significant. No rejections were due to the interaction between technician and space flight. Conclusion No consistent clinically significant effects of long-duration space flight were seen in echocardiographic variables of the given group of subjects.

Hamilton, Douglas R.↗

Component Repair Experiment-1: An Experiment Evaluating Electronic Component-Level Repair During Spaceflight

The Component Repair Experiment-1 (CRE-1) examines the capability for astronauts to perform electronics repair tasks in space. The goal is to determine the current capabilities and limits for the crew, and to make recommendations to improve and expand the range of work that astronauts may perform. CRE-1 provided two-layer, functional circuit boards and replacement components, a small tool kit, written and video training materials, and 1 hr of hands on training for the crew slated to perform the experiment approximately 7 months prior to the mission. Astronauts Michael Fincke and Sandra Magnus performed the work aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in February and March 2009. The astronauts were able to remove and replace components successfully, demonstrating the feasibility of performing component-level electronics repairs within a spacecraft. Several unsuccessful tasks demonstrated areas in need of improvement. These include improved and longer training prior to a mission, an improved soldering iron with a higher operating temperature and steady power source, video training and practice boards for refresher work or practice before a repair, and improved and varied hand tools and containment system.

Easton, John W.↗

STS payloads mission control study continuation phase A-1. Volume 2-C, task 3: Identification of joint activities and estimation of resources in preparation for joint flight operations

Payload mission control concepts are developed for real time flight operations of STS. Flight planning, training, simulations, and other flight preparations are included. Payload activities for the preflight phase, activity sequences and organizational allocations, and traffic and experience factors to establish composite man-loading for joint STS payload activities are identified for flight operations from 1980 to 1985.

Source record↗

The real-time operations of the Space Shuttle Orbiter during rendezvous and proximity operations

The Space Shuttle Orbiter is the only U.S. spacecraft in operation today that routinely performs an orbital rendezvous with another spacecraft. The trajectory planning and training of both flight crews and ground operations personnel required to achieve a 100 percent success rate is considerable. The preflight planning and training can be reduced through very simple design considerations of a new space vehicle.

Dougherty, Andrew↗

Developing a Motion-Based System for Lunar Vehicle Handling Qualities Testing

— Motion and visual cue influences are critical in any simulator system, as they impact multiple aspects of the human’s neurovestibular and visual systems. Cues of real motion proceeds to the brain before cues of visual change. It is important therefore for simulator motion cues to exist and to match those realistically with those of the real vehicle to provide transferable training of the activity for operations. The United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force Institute of Aviation Medicine (1989)[1] stated that motion platforms are the only simulation devices capable of fully stimulating the body motion sensors. They confirmed that motion platforms can impart accelerations to the whole body and therefore exercise the automatic motion feedback-loop that operators are used to. With both visual and motion cues handling the vehicle becomes more realistic. Strachan (2019)[1] confirms motion cueing from a well set-up motion platform has been found to be important especially in conditions such as night or reduced visibility where motion cues may be more relied upon. As of this writing, the only lunar rover motion simulator is housed at the General Motors (GM) Milford Proving Ground, which only simulates the motions of a traditional car. A NASA Test Team proposed to complete a motion-based simulation system for NASA’s Lunar Terrain Vehicle (LTV) which resides at Johnson Space Center’s Systems Engineering Simulator facility. This activity integrated existing fixed base simulation capabilities with a newly procured six-degree of freedom motion base platform for the design, development, evaluation, and training associated with the LTV project. This would incorporate a South Pole Lunar virtual reality simulation using Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter 5m/pixel high-resolution imagery and Unreal 5.2 Virtual Shadow Maps, combined with a virtual reality (VR) headset, integrated within a rover cockpit on a Mikrolar Motion Platform for evaluating human performance and vehicle handling qualities for concept roving vehicle designs. The motion-based system received its Human Rating Certification on March 2023. To begin testing the new facility, a preliminary handling qualities study was conducted. The objectives were to determine if there is a correlation amongst three handling quality methods of performance for a lunar vehicle and to understand the effects of a simulated 1/6-g loads and visuals with a motion platform on the operator while in a 1-g physical environment. The capability this system provides directly benefits the NASA’s Extravehicular Activity and Human Surface Mobility Program and NASA’s Flight Operations Directorate in evaluating the driving qualities of vehicle concepts, human performance related to the operating of a lunar surface vehicle, and assessment of suit related driving impacts. It would also provide direct operational benefit by providing a first-in class and unique simulation platform for the lunar astronaut training curriculum. The empirical knowledge of rover and human performance on this scale is paramount as there is currently no other lunar surface simulator with these capabilities. The result of this study ensures a broadly applicable method of testing for shirtsleeve, unpressurized and pressurized suited rover handling qualities.

Test Track↗

Operational aspects of Skylab Student Project experiments

The activities associated with the operational aspects ot the Skylab Student Project experiments began with the participation of flight operations personnel on the National Science Teachers Association Selection Board and ended with the performance of the student experiments by the Skylab flightcrews. The operational criteria used during the compatibility analysis to determine which of the 25 national winners could be flown on board the Skylab vehicle are reviewed, the factors involved in the assignment of the experiments to Skylab missions are discussed, the activities associated with training the flightcrews in the operation of the student experiments are described, and the actual performance of the experiments during the mission and the associated ground operations in the Mission Control Center are detailed.

Macleod, J. B.↗

NASA/ESA CT-990 Spacelab simulation. Appendix A: The experiment operator

A joint NASA/ESA endeavor was established to conduct an extensive spacelab simulation using the NASA CV-990 airborne laboratory. The scientific payload was selected to perform studies in upper atmospheric physics and infrared astronomy with principal investigators from France, the Netherlands, England, and several groups from the United States. Two experiment operators from Europe and two from the U.S. were selected to live aboard the aircraft along with a mission manager for a six-day period and operate the experiments in behalf of the principal scientists. This appendix discusses the experiment operators and their relationship to the joint mission under the following general headings: selection criteria, training programs, and performance. The performance of the proxy operators was assessed in terms of adequacy of training, amount of scientific data obtained, quality of data obtained, and reactions to problems that arose in experiment operation.

Reller, J. O., Jr.↗

Autogenic-feedback training: A countermeasure for orthostatic intolerance

NASA has identified cardiovascular deconditioning as a serious biomedical problem associated with long-duration exposure to microgravity in space. High priority has been given to the development of countermeasures for this disorder and the resulting orthostatic intolerance experienced by crewmembers upon their return to the 1g norm of Earth. The present study was designed to examine the feasibility of training human subjects to control their own cardiovascular responses to gravitational stimulation (i.e., a tilt table). Using an operant conditioning procedure, Autogenic-Feedback Training (AFT), we would determine if subjects could learn to increase their own blood pressure voluntarily.

Cowings, Patricia S.↗

Artemis Internal Science Team Update: Hardware and Integrated Testing

The Artemis program will reestablish human presence on the Moon and lead to a new era of scientific discovery and exploration. Led by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Artemis program is a collaboration of space agencies and companies from around the world. In support of the Artemis program a cross disciplinary effort integrating science, engineering, operations, and human factors is currently being developed to identify methods, facilities, and field locations to test hardware, train astronauts, and evaluate concepts of operations. NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD) and Exploration Systems Development Mission Directorate (ESDMD) established a comprehensive Science Team structure to support the Artemis program. This structure includes 1) an Artemis Internal Science Team (AIST), 2) a Geology Team (GT) with additional Participating Scientists (PS) roles, and 3) Payload Teams (PT) for the inclusion of scientific instruments. The GT, PS and PT will be competitively selected for each mission as part of NASA’s Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Sciences (ROSES) solicitations. The AIST provides multi-mission continuity and has been working closely with Artemis program elements to best integrate science into all aspects of planning and development. This abstract serves to provide an AIST update on science relevant hardware developments and integrated testing efforts that occurred in 2022.

Trevor George Graff↗

Artemis Internal Science Team Update: Deployed Payloads

Artemis will reestablish human presence on the Moon and lead to a new era of scientific discovery and exploration. Led by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Artemis effort includes a collaboration of space agencies and companies from around the world [1]. In support of Artemis, a cross-disciplinary effort of science, engineering, operations, and human factors personnel is currently developing the best methods, facilities, and field locations to test hardware, train astronauts, and evaluate concepts of operations. This abstract, as part of the Artemis Internal Science Team (AIST) [2], provides an update to NASA’s plans for the solicitation, development, and operations of deployed surface payloads. In calendar year 2023, NASA’s Science Mission Directorate will solicit proposals for instruments to be deployed by crew on the surface of the Moon (Fig. 1), beginning with Artemis III [3]. The Artemis III mission will land in the south polar region of the Moon, within 6º of latitude from the south pole, in the vicinity of both persistently illuminated and permanently shadowed areas of the Moon, with potential access to surface-accessible volatile deposits [4]. Several of the proposed landing regions are located among some of the oldest parts of the Moon, and together with the permanently shadowed regions, provide the opportunity to learn about the history of the Moon through previously unexplored lunar regions [5]. Deployed payloads will be a critical part of a notional program that captures the highest-priority science for Artemis III and provides the greatest feedforward to follow-on missions and the build-up to the Artemis Base Camp

R. C. Weber↗

Artemis Internal Science Team Update: Deployed Payloads

Artemis will reestablish human presence on the Moon and lead to a new era of scientific discovery and exploration. Led by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Artemis effort includes a collaboration of space agencies and companies from around the world. In support of Artemis, a cross-disciplinary effort of science, engineering, operations, and human factors personnel is currently developing the best methods, facilities, and field locations to test hardware, train astronauts, and evaluate concepts of operations. This poster, as part of the Artemis Internal Science Team (AIST), provides an update to NASA’s plans for the solicitation, development, and operations of deployed surface payloads. In calendar year 2023, NASA’s Science Mission Directorate will solicit proposals for instruments to be deployed by crew on the surface of the Moon (Fig. 1), beginning with Artemis III. The Artemis III mission will land in the south polar region of the Moon, within 6º of latitude from the south pole, in the vicinity of both persistently illuminated and permanently shadowed areas of the Moon, with potential access to surface-accessible volatile deposits. Several of the proposed landing regions are located among some of the oldest parts of the Moon, and together with the permanently shadowed regions, provide the opportunity to learn about the history of the Moon through previously unexplored lunar regions. Deployed payloads will be a critical part of a notional program that captures the highest-priority science for Artemis III and provides the greatest feed-forward to follow-on missions and the build-up to the Artemis Base Camp.

R. C. Weber↗

EVA Skills Training

Dr. Parazynski and a colleague from Extravehicular Activity (EVA), Robotics, & Crew Systems Operations (DX) worked closely to build the EVA Skills Training Program, and for the first time, defined the gold standards of EVA performance, allowing crewmembers to increase their performance significantly. As part of the program, individuals had the opportunity to learn at their own rate, taking additional water time as required, to achieve that level of performance. This focus on training to one's strengths and weaknesses to bolster them enabled the Crew Office and DX to field a much larger group of spacewalkers for the daunting "wall of EVA" required for the building and maintenance of the ISS. Parazynski also stressed the need for designers to understand the capabilities and the limitations of a human in a spacesuit, as well as opportunities to improve future generations of space. He shared lessons learned (how the Crew Office engaged in these endeavors) and illustrated the need to work as a team to develop these complex systems.

Parazynski, Scott↗

Columbus Programme (current status)

A description is presented for the Columbus Program. The Columbus program comprises a space segment, a ground segment, and operations preparation program, and a utilization preparation program. The space segment consist of three elements: an Attached Pressurized Module (APM); a Man Tended Free Flyer (MTFF); and a Polar platform (PPF). The ground segment is a program shared with other European programs such as Hermes, for communications, services, training and tracking facilities. The Operations preparation program focuses on preparing the ground segment for readiness for the launch of the space segment elements. And the Utilization preparation program includes definition of candidate payload facilities, initial payload selection and precursor flights (Eureca, Spacelab).

Source record↗

Computer Based Training: Field Deployable Trainer and Shared Virtual Reality

Astronaut training has traditionally been conducted at specific sites with specialized facilities. Because of its size and nature the training equipment is generally not portable. Efforts are now under way to develop training tools that can be taken to remote locations, including into orbit. Two of these efforts are the Field Deployable Trainer and Shared Virtual Reality projects. Field Deployable Trainer NASA has used the recent shuttle mission by astronaut Shannon Lucid to the Russian space station, Mir, as an opportunity to develop and test a prototype of an on-orbit computer training system. A laptop computer with a customized user interface, a set of specially prepared CD's, and video tapes were taken to the Mir by Ms. Lucid. Based upon the feedback following the launch of the Lucid flight, our team prepared materials for the next Mir visitor. Astronaut John Blaha will fly on NASA/MIR Long Duration Mission 3, set to launch in mid September. He will take with him a customized hard disk drive and a package of compact disks containing training videos, references and maps. The FDT team continues to explore and develop new and innovative ways to conduct offsite astronaut training using personal computers. Shared Virtual Reality Training NASA's Space Flight Training Division has been investigating the use of virtual reality environments for astronaut training. Recent efforts have focused on activities requiring interaction by two or more people, called shared VR. Dr. Bowen Loftin, from the University of Houston, directs a virtual reality laboratory that conducts much of the NASA sponsored research. I worked on a project involving the development of a virtual environment that can be used to train astronauts and others to operate a science unit called a Biological Technology Facility (BTF). Facilities like this will be used to house and control microgravity experiments on the space station. It is hoped that astronauts and instructors will ultimately be able to share common virtual environments and, using telephone links, conduct interactive training from separate locations.

Mullen, Terence J.↗

Space shuttle onboard navigation console expert/trainer system

A software system for use in enhancing operational performance as well as training ground controllers in monitoring onboard Space Shuttle navigation sensors is described. The Onboard Navigation (ONAV) development reflects a trend toward following a structured and methodical approach to development. The ONAV system must deal with integrated conventional and expert system software, complex interfaces, and implementation limitations due to the target operational environment. An overview of the onboard navigation sensor monitoring function is presented, along with a description of guidelines driving the development effort, requirements that the system must meet, current progress, and future efforts.

Wang, Lui↗

The Man-machine Integration Design and Analysis System (MIDAS) Software Training Documentation

This document is a training manual for MIDAS v5 that takes an user through the hardware and software requirements for the MIDAS V5 software, the steps required to download the software, and the steps that a user needs to take to create a MIDAS simulation. The training guide also illustrates how the models interact to generate MIDAS predictions of operator performance along task, workload, and situation awareness timelines and provides the test routines that were conducted to verify the operation of the integrated MIDAS models. The training guide shows the user how the MIDAS task model interacts with and controls an anthropometric model through its use of behavioral primitives. The training documentation also illustrates one approach that has been used to filter and analyze MIDAS output.

Brian F. Gore↗