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At least 163 records · Page 9
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
NASA NTRS1980

Astronaut training manual

Scientific information from previous space flights, space medicine, exercise physiology, and sports medicine was used to prepare a physical fitness manual suitable for use by members of the NASA astronaut population. A variety of scientifically valid exercise programs and activities suitable for the development of physical fitness are provided. Programs, activities, and supportive scientific data are presented in a concise, easy to read format so as to permit the user to select his or her mode of training with confidence and devote time previously spent experimenting with training routines to preparation for space flight. The programs and activities included were tested and shown to be effective and enjoyable.

Coleman, E. A.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Exercise thermoregulation after 6 h of chair rest, 6 degrees head-down bed-rest, and water immersion deconditioning in men

The purpose was to investigate the mechanism for the excessive exercise hyperthermia following deconditioning (reduction of physical fitness). Rectal (Tre) and mean skin (Tsk) temperatures and thermoregulatory responses were measured in six men [mean (SD) age, 32 (6) years; mass, 78.26 (5.80) kg; surface area, 1.95 (0.11) m2; maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max), 48 (6) ml.min-1.kg-1; whilst supine in air at dry bulb temperature 23.2 (0.6) degree C, relative humidity 31.1 (11.1)% and air speed 5.6 (0.1) m.min-1] during 70 min of leg cycle exercise [51 (4)% VO2max] in ambulatory control (AC), or following 6 h of chair rest (CR), 6 degree head-down bed rest (BR), and 20 degree (WI20) and 80 degree (WI80) foot-down water immersion [water temperature, 35.0 (0.1) degree C]. Compared with the AC exercise delta Tre [mean (SD) 0.77 (0.13) degree C (*P < 0.05), after WI80 0.96 (0.13) degree C*, and after WI20 1.03 (0.09) degree C*. All Tsk responded similarly to exercise: they decreased (NS) by 0.5-0.7 degree C in minutes 4-8 and equilibrated at +0.1 to +0.5 degree C at 60-70. Skin heat conductance was not different among the five conditions (range = 147-159 kJ.m-2.h-1.degree C-1). Results from an intercorrelation matrix suggested that total body sweat rate was more closely related to Tre at 70 min (Tre70) than limb sweat rate or blood flow. Only 36% of the variability in Tre70 could be accounted for by total sweating, and less than 10% from total body dehydration. It would appear that multiple factors are involved which may include change in sensitivity of thermo- and osmoreceptors.

NASA Discipline Regulatory Physiology↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Inter-Individual Variability in Astronaut Strength Response to Long-Duration Spaceflight May Be Dictated by In-Flight Exercise

Deconditioning induced by prolonged microgravity exposure during spaceflight hinders physical capacity. Examination of pre- to post-flight isokinetic strength measures shows that strength decreases; however, considerable variability between crewmembers exists. As in-flight exercise differs between crew, an examination of exercise training variables contributing to strength preservation is necessary. The purpose of this analysis was to examine in-flight exercise of astronauts who maintain strength compared to those with the greatest decrements in strength from pre- to post-flight.

Alyssa N. Varanoske↗
NASA NTRS1992

Program development for exercise countermeasures

The concern of NASA's Exercise Countermeasures Project (ECP) is to ensure crew physical effectiveness for flight- or mission-related tasks, and encompasses postflight as well as preflight and inflight exercise components. Attention is given to the implementation of ECP via the Space Shuttle Orbiter's treadmill, rower, cycle ergometer, and lower body negative pressure apparatus.

Hayes, J. C.↗
NASA NTRS1996

Exercise Thermoregulation After 6 hours of Chair Rest, 6 deg Head-Down Bed-Rest, and Water Immersion Deconditioning in Men

The purpose was to investigate the mechanism for the excessive exercise hyperthermia following deconditioning (reduction of physical fitness). Rectal (T(sub re)) and mean skin (T(bar)(sub sk)) temperatures and thermoregulatory responses were measured in six men [mean (SD) age, 32 (6) years; mass, 78.26 (5.80) kg; surface area, 1.95 (0.11) sq m; maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max), 48 (6) ml/min/kg; whilst supine in air at dry bulb temperature 23.2 (0.6)C, relative humidity 31.1 (11.1)% and air speed 5.6 (0.1) m/min] during 70 min of leg cycle exercise [51 (4)% VO2max] in ambulatory control (AC), or following 6 h of chair rest (CR), 6deg head-down bed rest (BR), and 20deg (W120) and 80deg (W180) foot-down water immersion [water temperature, 35.0 (0.1) C]. Compared with the AC exercise (Delta)T(sub re) [mean (SD) 0.77 (0.13)C], (Delta)T(sub re), after CR was 0.83 (0.08)C (NS), after BR 0.92 (0.13)C (*P <0.05), after W180 0.96 (0.13)C*, and after W120 1.03 (0.09)C*. All T(sub sk) responded similarly to exercise: they decreased (NS) by 0.5-0.7 C in minutes 4-8 and equilibrated at +0.1 to +0.5 C at 60-70. Skin heat conductance was not different among the five conditions (range = 147-159 kJ/sq/C. Results from an intercorrelation matrix suggested that total body sweat rate was more closely related to T(sub re) at 70 min (T(sub re70)) than limb sweat rate or blood flow. Only 36% of the variability in T(sub re70) could be accounted for by total sweating, and less than 10% from total body dehydration. It would appear that multiple factors are involved which may include change in sensitivity of thermo- and osmoreceptors.

Greenleaf, J. E.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Evaluation of Aerobic Capacity in Relation to Simulated Lunar Surface Extravehicular Activities

INTRODUCTION Astronauts will need to be physically prepared to successfully execute strenuous Extravehicular Activities (EVA)on the Lunar surface. Compared to Apollo missions, Artemis missions will include EVAs of increased physical demand, frequency, and duration, thus requiring adequate fitness to successfully and safely complete mission objectives and potential contingency scenarios. Currently, aerobic fitness standards for partial gravity (g)surface EVAs are not well supported by high-fidelity EVA analog data. This investigation aims to characterize metabolic demands from Lunar analog EVA simulations in relation to the current NASA standards for celestial partial-g aerobic fitness(aerobic capacity (VO2pk) ≥36.5ml/kg/min). METHODS To evaluate current Lunar EVA aerobic fitness requirements, a pilot study was performed to characterize metabolic ratesduring6 hour simulated EVAs. The EVAs were performed in pressurized MKIII (n=2male) and xEMU (n=3 female) spacesuits offloaded to 1/6 g in the NASA Active Response Gravity Offload System. VO2pk was assessed via graded exercise testing on acycle ergometer and physical workload was quantified as percent ofVO2pk. RESULTS Four out of five subjects did not meet the current NASA celestial surface EVA aerobic standard (3 xEMU, 1MKIII;35.1±0.9 ml/kg/min). During simulated EVAs, subjects (xEMU: 35±1ml/kg/min; MKIII: 44±10ml/kg/min) worked at an average 36%VO2pk(xEMU) and 31% VO2pk(MKIII). For xEMU subjects, the tasks with the greatest average metabolic rates were 2km treadmill traverse(0% grade: 47.2%VO2pk[max 69.1%]), object relocation (45.2%VO2pk[max 60.5%]), and 1.5km traverse (0% grade: 45%VO2pk[max 59.7%]). For MKIII subjects, the tasks with the greatest average metabolic rates were 0.5km treadmill traverse (30% grade: 35.4% VO2pk[max 45.5%]), object relocation(31% VO2pk[max 40.8%]), and treadmill traverse (0% grade: 29.9%VO2pk[max 45.9%]). CONCLUSIONS While average metabolic rates for simulated Lunar EVA fall within sustainable work ranges of30–40% VO2pkand life support system limitations, task-specific metabolic rates exceed this range and may indicate that greater fitness is necessary for more strenuous tasks expected to be performed on the Lunar surface. As few subjects met the standard, more data is needed to adequately evaluate the NASA 3001 standard.

N C Strock↗
NASA NTRS1996

An Exercise in Ion Beam Analysis

Scattering phenomena are taught in introductory physics classes, and concepts such as conservation of energy and momentum are used at all levels of physics. However, applications of scattering are often not included as part of an education. Rutherford scattering, a topic of any modern physics course, is now used as a tool for materials science applications. In the absence of lab equipment for students to perform such experiments, an exercise in the analysis of scattering data may accent the useful concepts given in lectures. The objective of this exercise is to analyze data from Rutherford backscattering experiments in order to determine elemental composition.

Kern, Kristen T.↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Inter-Individual Variability in Astronaut Strength Response to Long-Duration Spaceflight May Be Dictated by In-Flight Exercise

BACKGROUND: Deconditioning induced by prolonged microgravity exposure during spaceflight hinders physical capacity. Examination of pre- to post-flight isokinetic strength measures shows that strength decreases; however, considerable variability between crewmembers exists. As in-flight exercise differs between crew, an examination of exercise training variables contributing to strength preservation is necessary. The purpose of this analysis was to examine in-flight exercise of astronauts who maintain strength compared to those with the greatest decrements in strength from pre- to post-flight. METHODS: The database of NASA International Space Station (ISS) crew who completed pre- and post-flight knee isokinetic testing (n = 87) was used to identify “responders” (R) and “non-responders” (NR) to in-flight exercise (≥ 90-day flight duration). R were those that maintained or improved strength (mean of knee extension and flexion at 60°/sec) (n = 14; 5.6 ± 7.8%), and NR were those with the most severe decrements (n = 14; -32.8 ± 4.1%) from pre- to post-flight. In-flight daily exercise records (cycle ergometer, treadmill, resistance exercise) were aggregated on a weekly basis. Independent t-tests or Mann-Whitney U tests were used to compare groups for in-flight exercise variables (i.e., frequency, time, intensity, volume). RESULTS: In-flight cycle ergometer frequency (2.4 ± 0.8 vs. 3.3 ± 1.0 days/wk; p = 0.021), total time (78.5 ± 20.4 vs. 114.0 ± 49.3 min/wk; p = 0.021), and active time (59.3 ± 17.2 vs. 86.9 ± 44.1 min/wk; p = 0.050) were greater in NR than R, but no differences for cycle intensity were observed. Treadmill distance traveled per session was greater in R than NR (4.6 ± 0.8 vs 3.6 ± 1.3 km/sess, p = 0.031), but no differences for treadmill frequency, total time, or active time were observed. Lower body resistance exercise intensity relative to pre-flight body weight was greater in R than NR (110.0 ± 16.5 vs 88.7 ± 25.0%; p = 0.012), but no differences in upper body or core resistance exercise intensity, volume, or frequency existed. CONCLUSIONS: The unique musculoskeletal loading provided by treadmill running at the expense of cycle ergometry, combined with using higher relative lower body loads during resistance training, may contribute to preserving strength in ISS crewmembers during long-duration spaceflight.

Alyssa N. Varanoske↗
NASA NTRS2003

Training with the International Space Station interim resistive exercise device

A unique, interim elastomer-based resistive exercise device (iRED) is being used on the International Space Station. PURPOSE: This study characterized iRED training responses in a 1-g environment by: 1) determining whether 16 wk of high-intensity training with iRED produces increases in muscle strength and volume and bone mineral density (BMD), 2) comparing training responses with iRED to free weights, and 3) comparing iRED training responses at two training volumes. METHODS: Twenty-eight untrained men were assigned to four groups of seven subjects each: a no exercise control group (CON), an iRED group who trained with three sets/exercise (iRED3), a free-weight group (FW) who trained with three sets/exercise, and an iRED group who trained with six sets/exercise (iRED6). Training exercises included squat (SQ), heel raise (HR), and dead lift (DL) exercises, 3 d.wk(-1) for 16 wk. RESULTS: For CON, no changes occurred pre- to posttraining. For iRED3, increases (P< or =0.05) in one-repetition maximum (1-RM) strength (SQ 21 +/- 4%, HR 17 +/- 4%, DL 29 +/- 5%), leg lean mass (3.1 +/- 0.5%) by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and thigh (4.5 +/- 0.9%) and calf (5.9 +/- 0.7%) muscle volume (by magnetic resonance imaging) occurred after training with no changes in BMD (DXA). For FW, increases in 1-RM strength (SQ 22 +/- 5%, HR 24 +/- 3%, DL 41 +/- 7%), whole body (3.0 +/- 1.1%) and leg lean mass (5.4 +/- 1.2%), thigh (9.2 +/- 1.3%) and calf (4.2 +/- 1.0%) muscle volumes, and lumbar BMD (4.2 +/- 0.7%) occurred after training. For iRED6, all responses were similar to iRED3. CONCLUSION: High-intensity training with the iRED produced muscle responses similar to FW but was not effective in stimulating bone. Bed rest and spaceflight studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the iRED to prevent microgravity deconditioning.

Weight-Bearing/physiology↗
NASA NTRS1996

Relationship of the time course of venous gas bubbles to altitude decompression illness

The correlation is low between the occurrence of gas bubbles in the pulmonary artery, called venous gas emboli (VGE), and subsequent decompression illness (DCI). The correlation improves when a "grade" of VGE is considered; a zero to four categorical classification based on the intensity and duration of the VGE signal from a Doppler bubble detector. Additional insight about DCI might come from an analysis of the time course of the occurrence of VGE. Using the NASA Hypobaric Decompression Sickness Databank, we compared the time course of the VGE outcome between 322 subjects who exercised and 133 Doppler technicians who did not exercise to evaluate the role of physical activity on the VGE outcome and incidence of DCI. We also compared 61 subjects with VGE and DCI with 110 subjects with VGE but without DCI to identify unique characteristics about the time course of the VGE outcome to try to discriminate between DCI and no-DCI cases. The VGE outcome as a function of time showed a characteristic short lag, rapid response, and gradual recovery phase that was related to physical activity at altitude and the presence or absence of DCI. The average time for DCI symptoms in a limb occurred just before the time of the highest fraction of VGE in the pulmonary artery. It is likely, but not certain, that an individual will report a DCI symptom if VGE are detected early in the altitude exposure, the intensity or grade of VGE rapidly increases from a limb region, and the intensity or grade of VGE remains high.

NASA Discipline Environmental Health↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Internal Architecture of the Common Habitat

The core stage liquid oxygen tank of the Space Launch System can be manufactured as a habitat instead of as a propellant tank, with a common design such that it is equally suitable for use in 0g, 1/6g, 3/8g, 1g, or variable artificial gravity. This Common Habitat can be the central element of a human spaceflight architecture that encompasses the Moon, Mars, and other destinations within the inner solar system. The Common Habitat is specifically used within an alternative architecture study (that is not part of the current NASA baseline) as the core habitation element within a Lunar Basecamp, Mars Basecamp, and the Deep Space Exploration Vehicle. The Common Habitat internal architecture applies a design philosophy to separate crew functions according to deck. The lower deck is reserved for private functions. It includes eight private crew quarters and four waste and hygiene clusters – each with a private waste management compartment, private full body hygiene compartment, and foyer/clothes changing area. The mid deck is primarily allocated to mission-related working functions. It includes an exercise facility, fabrication / maintenance / repair facility, physical science laboratory (physics, geology, and astronomy), and life science laboratory (biology and human research). The mid deck also has four external hatches, clocked one every 90 degrees, centered on the vehicle vertical centerline. Each hatch has a 60-inch tall by 40-inch wide opening with the mid deck floor 16 inches below the bottom lip of the hatch opening. The upper deck is primarily allocated to group or social functions. It includes a large galley, wardroom with projector and display screen, plant growth chambers, bulk stowage, command and control station, medical facility, hygiene compartment, and vehicle subsystems. A Vertical Translation System, based in part on results from a GrabCAD public challenge, enables crew and equipment traverse between habitat decks in 0g, 1/6g, 3/8g, and 1g. A 40-inch by 60-inch vertical translation corridor ensures that anything that can fit through the external hatches can also be moved from deck to deck. The system includes three component systems: a deploying floor to safety barrier system that folds down to become a traversable floor when vertical translation is not in use and deploys to become a safety barrier during vertical translations; a folding ladder that stows in the ceiling when not in use; and an elevator platform that can attach to the ladder for cargo or incapacitated crew member transport. This system is complemented by a Horizontal Translation System, also based in part on the same GrabCAD challenge, provides for horizontal crew translation in microgravity but requires no vehicle reconfiguration for fractional or whole gravity operation. It relies primarily on gecko-inspired grippers, originally developed at Stanford and NASA JPL, attached to footwear to enable crew to emulate walking. Some handrails are also strategically placed throughout the Common Habitat to aid translation in both gravity and microgravity environments.

Common Habitat↗
NASA NTRSDate not supplied

Internal Architecture of the Common Habitat

The core stage liquid oxygen tank of the Space Launch System can be manufactured as a habitat instead of as a propellant tank, with a common design such that it is equally suitable for use in 0g, 1/6g, 3/8g, 1g, or variable artificial gravity. It is capable of sustaining a crew size of eight for missions up to 1200 days in duration. This Common Habitat can be the central element of a human spaceflight architecture that encompasses the Moon, Mars, and other destinations within the inner solar system. Within this archtiecture, the Common Habitat is specifically used as the core habitation element within a Lunar Base Camp, Mars Base Camp, and the Deep Space Exploration Vehicle. The Common Habitat internal architecture applies a design philosophy to separate crew functions according to deck. The lower deck is reserved for private functions. It includes eight private crew quarters and four waste and hygiene clusters – each with a private waste management compartment, private full body hygiene compartment, and private foyer/clothes changing area. The mid deck is primarily allocated to mission-related functions. It includes an exercise facility, fabrication / maintenance / repair facility, physical science laboratory (physics, geology, and remote sensing: astronomy, heliophysics, planetary science, and Earth science), and life science laboratory (biology and human research). The mid deck also has four external hatches, clocked one every 90 degrees, centered on the vehicle vertical centerline. Each hatch has a 60-inch tall by 40-inch wide opening with the mid deck floor 16 inches below the bottom lip of the hatch opening. The upper deck also includes some mission functions, but is primarily allocated to social functions. It includes a large galley, wardroom with projector and display screen, plant growth chambers, bulk stowage, command and control station, medical facility, hygiene compartment, and vehicle subsystems.

Habitability↗
NASA NTRS1971

Inflight exercise and work tolerance, experiment M003

The response of the cardiovascular system to a known exercise workload is used as index of the general physical condition of crewmembers during long duration space flight. Day-to-day evaluations of pulse rates before and after exercise periods were not remarkable. The response of the cardiovascular system to a calibrated workload was relatively constant for a given individual during space flights of as many as 14 days in connection with the Gemini Program.

Dietlein, L. F.↗
NASA NTRS2015

Parabolic Flight Investigation for Advanced Exercise Concept Hardware Hybrid Ultimate Lifting Kit (HULK)

Long-duration space flight poses many hazards to the health of the crew. Among those hazards is the physiological deconditioning of the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems due to prolonged exposure to microgravity. To combat this erosion of physical condition space flight may take on the crew, the Human Research Program (HRP) is charged with developing Advanced Exercise Concepts to maintain astronaut health and fitness during long-term missions, while keeping device mass, power, and volume to a minimum. The goal of this effort is to preserve the physical capability of the crew to perform mission critical tasks in transit and during planetary surface operations. The HULK is a pneumatic-based exercise system, which provides both resistive and aerobic modes to protect against human deconditioning in microgravity. Its design targeted the International Space Station (ISS) Advanced Resistive Exercise Device (ARED) high level performance characteristics and provides up to 600 foot pounds resitive loading with the capability to allow for eccentric to concentric (E:C) ratios of higher than 1:1 through a DC motor assist component. The device's rowing mode allows for high cadence aerobic activity. The HULK parabolic flight campaign, conducted through the NASA Flight Opportunities Program at Ellington Field, resulted in the creation of device specific data sets including low fidelity motion capture, accelerometry and both inline and ground reaction forces. These data provide a critical link in understanding how to vibration isolate the device in both ISS and space transit applications. Secondarily, the study of human exercise and associated body kinematics in microgravity allows for more complete understanding of human to machine interface designs to allow for maximum functionality of the device in microgravity.

countermeasures↗
NASA NTRS2014

Novel Exercise Hardware Requirements, Development, and Selection Process for Long-Duration Space Flight

Long-duration space flight poses many hazards to the health of the crew. Among those hazards is the physiological deconditioning of the musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems due to prolonged exposure to microgravity. To combat the physical toll that exploration space flight may take on the crew, NASAs Human Research Program is charged with developing exercise protocols and hardware to maintain astronaut health and fitness during long-term missions. The goal of this effort is to preserve the physical capability of the crew to perform mission critical tasks in transit and during planetary surface operations. As NASA aims toward space travel outside of low-earth orbit (LEO), the constraints placed upon exercise equipment onboard the vehicle increase. Proposed vehicle architectures for transit to and from locations outside of LEO call for limits to equipment volume, mass, and power consumption. While NASA has made great strides in providing for the physical welfare of the crew, the equipment currently used onboard ISS is too large, too massive, and too power hungry to consider for long-duration flight. The goal of the Advanced Exercise Concepts (AEC) project is to maintain the resistive and aerobic capabilities of the current, ISS suite of exercise equipment, while making reductions in size, mass, and power consumption in order to make the equipment suitable for long-duration missions.

physical exercise↗
NASA NTRS2006

Multiaxis, Lightweight, Computer-Controlled Exercise System

The multipurpose, multiaxial, isokinetic dynamometer (MMID) is a computer-controlled system of exercise machinery that can serve as a means for quantitatively assessing a subject s muscle coordination, range of motion, strength, and overall physical condition with respect to a wide variety of forces, motions, and exercise regimens. The MMID is easily reconfigurable and compactly stowable and, in comparison with prior computer-controlled exercise systems, it weighs less, costs less, and offers more capabilities. Whereas a typical prior isokinetic exercise machine is limited to operation in only one plane, the MMID can operate along any path. In addition, the MMID is not limited to the isokinetic (constant-speed) mode of operation. The MMID provides for control and/or measurement of position, force, and/or speed of exertion in as many as six degrees of freedom simultaneously; hence, it can accommodate more complex, more nearly natural combinations of motions and, in so doing, offers greater capabilities for physical conditioning and evaluation. The MMID (see figure) includes as many as eight active modules, each of which can be anchored to a floor, wall, ceiling, or other fixed object. A cable is payed out from a reel in each module to a bar or other suitable object that is gripped and manipulated by the subject. The reel is driven by a DC brushless motor or other suitable electric motor via a gear reduction unit. The motor can be made to function as either a driver or an electromagnetic brake, depending on the required nature of the interaction with the subject. The module includes a force and a displacement sensor for real-time monitoring of the tension in and displacement of the cable, respectively. In response to commands from a control computer, the motor can be operated to generate a required tension in the cable, to displace the cable a required distance, or to reel the cable in or out at a required speed. The computer can be programmed, either locally or via a remote terminal, to support exercises in one or more of the usual exercise modes (isometric, isokinetic, or isotonic) along complex, multiaxis trajectories. The motions of, and forces applied by, the subject can be monitored in real time and recorded for subsequent evaluation. Through suitable programming, the exercise can be adjusted in real time according to the physical condition of the subject. The remote- programming capability makes it possible to connect multiple exercise machines into a network for supervised exercise by multiple subjects or even for competition by geographically dispersed subjects.

Haynes, Leonard↗