Methodological approach to study of cosmonauts errors and its instrumental support

The methodological approach to the study of cosmonauts errors is discussed in the paper. Within its framework an error is considered in psychophysiological aspect as consequence of cosmonaut "psychophysiological troubles" caused by combined effect of flight extreme conditions on his/her organism. This approach was used for the investigation of interrelation between cosmonauts errors, their psychophysiological state and work-rest schedule peculiarities. It includes procedures of expert analysis of data received in the course of radio and TV sessions with crew, analysis of timelines as well deviations in "crew-spacecraft" system functioning. These data are accumulated, systematized and processed in data base. Realization of the suggested approach does not require specialized onboard equipment and crew members time expenditure. Some results of inflight data analysis are presented to illustrate its potentials.     

Some aspects of psychophysiological support of crewmember's performance reliability in space flight

Crewmembers play an important role in ensuring the efficiency of "crew-spacecraft" system. However, despite of the fact that crewmembers are well trained and highly motivated persons, extreme flight factors may influence negatively on their reliability, and lead to human error occurrence. Therefore, working out methods of human error prevention is very significant to increase crewmember's performance reliability. Human error can occur in the operation of systems for a number of reasons. Within the framework of the present investigation, with use the data collected during "Mir" station missions, the significant (p<0.05) positive correlation of crewmembers errors (CE) frequency with their psychophysiological state (PPS), and work and rest schedule (WRS) intensity has been revealed. Differently, the higher WRS intensity, the crewmember's PPS is worse, and CE frequency is higher. This finding has been based on substantiations of the approach to human reliability management. Its essence will consist of the following: reducing WRS intensity, we thus can improve a crewmember's PPS and, accordingly, reduce CE frequency. This approach is discussed in the paper.     

Study of the psychological adaptation of the crew during a 135 days space simulation

The purpose of this study is to examine human adaptation of a three members' crew during a 135 days MIR flight simulation and to compare and validate psychological methods for monitoring and support in flight. The main findings showed that isolation was not a key factor for the subjects who were more concerned by recreational activities, family, and work. The individual reactions to stress of the crew members were to project their problems on the others. These reactions had some consequences upon the group: Although the three subjects developed a weak tendency to "group think", one of the crew members was considered as less integrated to the group by the other two subjects, who, however, acted to protect (successfully) the general cohesion and mood of the crew. From a methodological point of view, baseline data predicted the difficulties that occurred for one of the crew member. Both quantitative and qualitative tools were adequate, although qualitative tests gave a closer approach to the actual situation that developed during the simulation.     

An algorithm for estimation and separation of ephemeris and clock errors in SBAS

The estimation and separation of ephemeris and clock errors is an integral part of a SBAS (Space Based Augmentation System). Generally, the global solution is based on the full state approach for satellite errors (ephemeris and clock) and station errors, using a large least square estimator; or the other way is to sequentially estimate the ephemeris and clock through a Kalman filter, using a complex model of the satellite dynamics. In this paper, the estimation and separation of ephemeris and clock errors is addressed through a unique approach of combining both the methods. The algorithm employs measurements, which are pre-processed for various errors and known biases. A single difference technique is used to separately estimate the ephemeris and clock components. The ephemeris Kalman filter uses a priori information of ephemeris errors along with measurements through a minimum variance estimator to provide ephemeris error estimate. A similar approach is adopted in the clock error estimation process, to provide clock and clock rate estimates. The algorithm results are presented using simulated data for known errors in ephemeris/clock and subsequent retrieval. This algorithm estimates these errors as corrections to the broadcast Global Positioning System (GPS) navigation data, required by a SBAS user for accuracy improvement.     

Crew autonomy for deep space exploration: Lessons from the Antarctic Search for Meteorites

Future piloted missions to explore asteroids, Mars, and other targets beyond the Moon will experience strict limitations on communication between vehicles in space and control centers on Earth. These limitations will require crews to operate with greater autonomy than any past space mission has demonstrated. The Antarctic Search for Meteorites (ANSMET) project, which regularly sends small teams of researchers to remote parts of the southern continent, resembles a space mission in many ways but does not rely upon a control center. It provides a useful crew autonomy model for planners of future deep space exploration missions. In contrast to current space missions, ANSMET gives the crew the authority to adjust competing work priorities, task assignments, and daily schedules; allows the crew to be the primary monitor of mission progress; demands greater crew accountability for operational errors; requires the crew to make the most of limited communication bandwidth; adopts systems designed for simple operation and failure recovery; and grants the crew a leading role in the selection and stowage of their equipment.     

Metabolic assessments during extra-vehicular activity

Extra-vehicular activity (EVA) has a significant role during extended space flights. It demonstrates that humans can survive and perform useful work outside the Orbital Space Stations (OSS) while wearing protective space suits (SS). When the International Space Station 'Alpha' (ISSA) is fully operational, EVA assembly, installation, maintenance and repair operations will become an everyday repetitive work activity in space. It needs new ergonomic evaluation of the work/rest schedule for an increasing of the labor amount per EVA hour. The metabolism assessment is a helpful method to control the productivity of the EVA astronaut and to optimize the work/rest regime. Three following methods were used in Russia to estimate real-time metabolic rates during EVA: 1. Oxygen consumption, computed from the pressure drop in a high pressure bottle per unit time (with actual thermodynamic oxygen properties under high pressure and oxygen leakage taken into account). 2. Carbon dioxide production, computed from CO2 concentration at the contaminant control cartridge and gas flow rate in the life support subsystem closed loop (nominal mode) or gas leakage in the SS open loop (emergency mode). 3. Heat removal, computed from the difference between the temperatures of coolant water or gas and its flow rate in a unit of time (with assumed humidity and wet oxygen state taken into account). Comparison of heat removal values with metabolic rates enables us to determine the thermal balance during an operative medical control of EVA at "Salyut-6", "Salyut-7" and "Mir" OSS. Complex analysis of metabolism, body temperature and heat rate supports a differential diagnosis between emotional and thermal components of stress during EVA. It gives a prognosis of human homeostasis during EVA. Available information has been acquired into an EVA data base which is an effective tool for ergonomical optimization.     

Multiple-task performance on a computer-simulated life support system during a space mission simulation

This paper presents an experiment which examined the effects of isolation and confinement during a simulation of a short-term space mission. During the 7-day spaceflight simulation, four Canadian astronauts were tested daily on a 30-min performance task. The task, CAMS (Cabin Air Management System), represents a computer-based simulation of a generic life support system. As a multiple-task environment, it allows the measurement of a wide range of task management variables such as primary and secondary task performance, and system control activities. Measures of subjective state variables were also taken. The results did not show any evidence of serious performance decrements for any crew member. The analysis revealed different adjustment patterns with which crew members responded as a function of mission duration and variations in workload. Among the secondary tasks employed, prospective memory was found to be more sensitive than reaction time to increases in workload. The paper concludes with a discussion of the utility of spaceflight simulations and computer-based simulations of space work.     

一种星载计算机数据流软故障纠正算法

在太空环境中,由于宇宙射线的存在,计算机系统的存储单元经常发生各种瞬态故障。此类故障通常都使用硬件或从系统角度加以解决,但其成本高重量大。针对此种故障类型提出了一种软件实现的数据流故障纠正算法,该算法通过对程序中变量进行简单编码和解码操作后,可对发生在程序数据空间内的单“位”错误进行检测并进而纠正。故障注入的实验结果表明,对于程序数据段错误,该算法可把错误输出从原始程序的27％～49％降低到0．01％～0．02％,同时故障纠正率接近100％;对于程序堆栈段错误,该算法可把错误输出从原始程序的10％～70％降低到1％～3％,故障纠正率也在73％以上。与其它软件实现的软故障检测或纠正算法相比,实验结果表明该算法实现简单,运算量小,具有较高的错误探测与纠正能力。     

惯性导航系统/双星距离差组合导航算法的可行性研究

研究由相对于双星的距离差量测与惯性测量系统构成实时的适用于跟踪高动态目标的组合导航系统的可行性。阐述系统工作原理 ,建立了相关的数学模型 ,用拉格朗日乘子法求出了解析解 ,用 Matlab软件验证其结果并作了误差分析。结果表明 :相对于双星的测距差对于惯性测量系统沿双星连线轴向的测量误差算法有十分明显的修正效果 ,但对与双星连线轴正交方向的测量误差 ,其修正能力很差。指出距离差量测本质上是与双星连线轴向相关的一维量测。欲构成对惯性测量三维方向均有修正作用的实时组合导航系统 ,应当在系统中另增加独立的量测量。     

A space exploration strategy that promotes international and commercial participation

NASA has created a plan to implement the Flexible Path strategy, which utilizes a heavy lift launch vehicle to deliver crew and cargo to orbit. In this plan, NASA would develop much of the transportation architecture (launch vehicle, crew capsule, and in-space propulsion), leaving the other in-space elements open to commercial and international partnerships. This paper presents a space exploration strategy that reverses that philosophy, where commercial and international launch vehicles provide launch services. Utilizing a propellant depot to aggregate propellant on orbit, smaller launch vehicles are capable of delivering all of the mass necessary for space exploration. This strategy has benefits to the architecture in terms of cost, schedule, and reliability.     

The Russian experience in medical care and health maintenance of the International Space Station crews

The main purpose of the medical support system aboard International Space Station (ISS) is crew health maintenance and high level of work capability assurance prior to during and after in space flights. In the present communication the Russian point of view dealing with the problems and achievements in this branch is presented. An overview on medical operations during flight and after finalization of the space missions based on Russian data of crew health and environment state monitoring, as well as data on the inflight countermeasures (prophylaxis) jointly with data on operational problems that are specific to ISS is presented. The report summarizes results of the medical examination of Russian members of the ISS and taxi crews during and after visits to the ISS.     

光纤陀螺随机漂移ARMA模型研究

从理论上证明了山多个ARMA过程组成的平稳随机过程，可以南一个等效ARMA模型描述，并推导废模型的数学表达式。提出了一种新的平稳随机过程建模的有效方法，并应用于光纤陀螺随机漂移建模。采用功率谱密度分析光纤陀螺随机漂移组成，从而确定随机漂移的ARMA模型的形式和阶数。通过对实际光纤陀螺数据分析和建模，利用所得随机漂移模型对陀螺输出数据补偿，检验模型的适用件。结果表明废建模方法正确町行，采用该方法建立的光纤随机漂移模型具有很好的适用性，可以有效抑制光纤陀螺随机漂移。     

Structured methods for identifying and correcting potential human errors in space operations

Human performance plays a significant role in the development and operation of any complex system, and human errors are significant contributors to degraded performance, incidents, and accidents for technologies as diverse as medical systems, commercial aircraft, offshore oil platforms, nuclear power plants, and space systems. To date, serious accidents attributed to human error have fortunately been rare in space operations. However, as flight rates go up and the duration of space missions increases, the accident rate could increase unless proactive action is taken to identity and correct potential human errors in space operations. The Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) has developed and applied structured methods of human error analysis to identify potential human errors, assess their effects on system performance, and develop strategies to prevent the errors or mitigate their consequences. These methods are being applied in NASA-sponsored programs to the domain of commercial aviation, focusing on airplane maintenance and air traffic management. The application of human error analysis to space operations could contribute to minimize the risks associated with human error in the design and operation of future space systems.     

苏/俄交会对接技术研究

苏/俄交会对接技术的研发,最初是为20世纪60年代初苏联月球使命服务的,后来主要用于空间站的运输使命。因此,最初的＂联盟＂飞船逐步演变发展为联盟号载人飞船系列与进步号货运飞船系列。联盟号和进步号飞船应用＂指针＂或＂航向＂交会雷达系统,基本采用自动轨道交会方法。对应急运作,联盟号航天员可使用手控器;对于不载人的进步号使命...     

Psychological considerations of man in space: problems & solutions

With concrete plans for long duration flight taking form a new impetus is lent to preparing man for this hostile and unnatural environment. Cramped conditions, isolation from family and loved ones, work stress, fear, and incompatibility with fellow crew, are but a few of the problems suffered by astronauts and cosmonauts during their long missions in orbit about the earth.

Although criteria for selection of crew is one aspect of attacking the problem, it has not solved it Notwithstanding good selection, team combination, and counselling before flight, problems have still occurred with unwanted consequences. Incompatibility of team members, far from being the exception, has been frequent. This has been detrímental both physiologically and psychologically for the individual as well as for the operational success and safety of the missions.

Because problems will inevitably occur in future long duration missions, especially when they are of international and multi-cultural nature, the importance of dealing with them is underlined. This paper takes a different approach towards ameliorating these problems, namely that of psychological group training before a mission.     

载人航天器乘员舱空气龄分布数值仿真及试验研究

引入空气龄指标作为载人航天器舱内空气质量新的评价标准。通过空气龄分布研究,能够找出舱内新鲜空气供给较差的位置。建立了载人航天器乘员舱仿真模型,利用FLUENT软件UDS方程求解了舱内空气龄分布。采用示踪气体下降法对仿真结果中空气龄数值较高的位置进行了空气龄试验,测试结果与仿真结果吻合良好。文章的研究结果有助于指导未来我国空间站乘员舱通风系统的设计。     

Development of Skylab medical equipment and flight preparations

The purpose of this report is to provide an introduction and overview of the Skylab medical program. Some of the more important medical systems and equipment provided for crew sustenance are described. The major inflight medical experiments are reviewed, and the test programs are discussed. The medical operations procedures and the techniques used to monitor crew health are reviewed to provide an understanding of the medical management of this complex mission.     

Behavioral and biological effects of autonomous versus scheduled mission management in simulated space-dwelling groups

Logistical constraints during long-duration space expeditions will limit the ability of Earth-based mission control personnel to manage their astronaut crews and will thus increase the prevalence of autonomous operations. Despite this inevitability, little research exists regarding crew performance and psychosocial adaptation under such autonomous conditions. To this end, a newly-initiated study on crew management systems was conducted to assess crew performance effectiveness under rigid schedule-based management of crew activities by Mission Control versus more flexible, autonomous management of activities by the crews themselves. Nine volunteers formed three long-term crews and were extensively trained in a simulated planetary geological exploration task over the course of several months. Each crew then embarked on two separate 3–4 h missions in a counterbalanced sequence: Scheduled, in which the crews were directed by Mission Control according to a strict topographic and temporal region-searching sequence, and Autonomous, in which the well-trained crews received equivalent baseline support from Mission Control but were free to explore the planetary surface as they saw fit. Under the autonomous missions, performance in all three crews improved (more high-valued geologic samples were retrieved), subjective self-reports of negative emotional states decreased, unstructured debriefing logs contained fewer references to negative emotions and greater use of socially-referent language, and salivary cortisol output across the missions was attenuated. The present study provides evidence that crew autonomy may improve performance and help sustain if not enhance psychosocial adaptation and biobehavioral health. These controlled experimental data contribute to an emerging empirical database on crew autonomy which the international astronautics community may build upon for future research and ultimately draw upon when designing and managing missions.     

At the intersection of automation and culture

The crash of an automated passenger jet at Nagoya, Japan, in 1995, is used as an example of crew error in using automatic systems. Automation provides pilots with the ability to perform tasks in various ways. National culture is cited as a factor that affects how a pilot and crew interact with each other and equipment.     

基于有向图的航天器编队鲁棒自适应姿态协同跟踪控制

针对一组有向通讯拓扑关系的编队航天器的协同控制问题,考虑航天器的模型不确定性(指惯量不确定性)以及受到的外部干扰的影响,设计了分布式自适应协同姿态跟踪控制器,使得各航天器姿态协同的同时跟踪时变的期望姿态。首先,针对由MRP参数描述的航天器误差动力学方程,选取了包含相对误差项以及绝对误差项的滑模面,将模型不确定项和外界干扰项作为整体处理,基于Lyapunov稳定性理论给出了非回归项的自适应算法和分布式协同跟踪控制律的设计方法,以使得各航天器协同收敛到期望的姿态,最后通过仿真验证了该算法的有效性、可行性。