Human Spaceflight

Question 0

How has the space environment interacted with life?

Answer 0

Accelerating forces, Microgravity, Vacuum, Temperature, Closed-loop environment, Isolation, Radiation, EM field, Circadian Cycles

Question 1

True or False: There is a lot of data available on the human body in long duration missions.

Answer 1

False, there is a lack of data.

Question 2

Life on Earth has evolved while the force of ______ has been constant for 4.5 Billion years

Answer 2

Gravity

Question 3

What was discovered during Mercury 8?

Answer 3

Modest increase in heart rate post flight

Question 4

What was discovered during Mercury 9?

Answer 4

Increase in heart rate post flight

Question 5

What was discovered during Gemini?

Answer 5

Fainting Episodes

Question 6

What was discovered during Apollo?

Answer 6

Heart Rhythm Disturbance (arrhythmia)

Question 7

What was discovered during the Shuttle missions?

Answer 7

8 episodes of fainting or dizziness in the first 26 missions.

Question 8

What was discovered by the Soyuz 9 Crew?

Answer 8

They were so severely debilitated they could not egress the capsule without assistance.

Question 9

What was discovered by Soviet long duration space flights?

Answer 9

Many returning crews were incapacitated and completely unable to egress the capsule without help.

Question 10

What is affected by Space Adaptation Syndrome (SAS)?

Answer 10

Cardio-vascular: Heart and Vessles
Musculo-skeletal: Muscles and bone
Neuro-vestibular: Equilibirum, spatial orientation
Cell production: Blood producing organs and immune system
Intracranial cerebrospinal: fluid surrounding spine and brain

Question 11

What is the transit out, Mars surface stay, and return duration on a typical Mars mission timeline?

Answer 11

161 days out, 573 day stay, 154 days return

Question 12

Based on US and Russian space flight data, US astronaut longitudinal data, and submarine, Antarctic winter-over, and military aviation experience, what is the incidence of significant illness or injury?

Answer 12

0.06 per person per year as defined by US standards. Requiring emergency room(ER) visit or hospital admission.

Question 13

Subset requiring intensive care (ICU) support is ________ per person per year?

Answer 13

0.02

Question 14

For a Mars mission, what are the projected rates of illness or injury? 6 crewmembers, 2.5 year mission.

Answer 14

0.9 persons per mission to require ER capability. 0.3 persons per mission to require ICU capability.

Question 15

Recall the clinical problems of a long duration mission to Mars and the need for effective medical support.

Answer 15

• Difficulty of rehabilitation following landing
• Trauma and acute medical problems
• Illness and ambulatory health problems
• Altered pharmacodynamics and adverse drug reaction

Question 16

What is the need for effective medical support?

Answer 16

Facilities must be mostly autonomous. One-way Earth-Mars communications time is 3-22 minutes.

Question 17

Life Support includes:

Answer 17

Gravity, Radiation Protection, food, Water, Pressure, Air, Temperature, Waste Removal

Question 18

Human needs to sustain life:

Answer 18

Air (O2, CO2, pressure, temperature, humidity, cleanliness)
Water
Food
Protection (against radiation, noise, vibration, acceleration, thermal extremes, MMOD, etc.)

Question 19

How much food does a person need per year?

Answer 19

219 Kg (~3x body mass)

Question 20

How much Oxygen does a person need per year?

Answer 20

292 kg (~4x body mass)

Question 21

How much potable water does a person need per year?

Answer 21

1132 kg (~8x body mass)

Question 22

How much hygiene water does a person need per year?

Answer 22

2008 kg

Question 23

How much laundry water does a person need per year?

Answer 23

4562 kg

Question 24

What is the mass and cost of total consumables per person?

Answer 24

8213 kg per person per year

$50,000 per day in launch costs per person.

Question 25

What do EVA suits provide?

Answer 25

Pressurized atmosphere
Sufficient oxygen partial pressure in alveoli
Carbon-dioxide removal
Temperature regulation/control
Micrometeorite Protection
Mobility during EVA
Radiation Protection