Psychomotor performance during a 28 day head-down tilt with and without lower body negative pressure

Several factors may affect psychomotor performance in space: sensory-motor changes, sleep disturbances, psychological modifications induced by the social isolation and confinement. However, psychomotor performance is difficult to assess. A battery of standardized and computerized tests, so-called "Automated Portable Test System" (APTS) was devised to ascertain the cognitive, perceptive and motor abilities and their possible fluctuations according to environmental effects. Antiorthostatic bedrest, often used to simulate weightlessness, (particularly cardiovascular modifications) also constitutes a situation of social confinement and isolation. During two bedrest experiments (with head-down tilt of -6 degrees) of 28 days each, we intended to assess psychomotor performance of 6 males so as to determine whether: on the one hand, it could be altered by remaining in decubitus; on the other, the Lower Body Negative Pressure sessions, designed to prevent orthostatic intolerance back on Earth, could improve the performance. To accomplish this, part of the APTS tests as well as an automated perceptive attention test were performed. No downgrading of psychomotor performance was observed. On the contrary, the tasks were more accurately performed over time. In order to assess the experimental conditions on the acquisition phase, the learning curves were modelled. A beneficial effect of the LBNP sessions on simple tests involving the visual-motor coordination and attention faculties can only be regarded as a mere trend. Methods used in this experiment are also discussed.     

Effects of long-duration space flight on target acquisition

The purpose of the study was to explore the effects of long-duration space flight on the acquisition of specific visual targets in the horizontal plane. Seven cosmonauts (4 high performance pilots and 3 non-pilots) who had flown between 186–198 days on Mir served as subjects. Baseline testing was performed 4 times prior to launch and 4 times following landing at different intervals totrack recovery. During testing the subjects were required to acquire targets that were randomly presented with both a head and eye movement using a time optimal strategy. Prior to flight two unique head movement strategies, related primarily to piloting experience, were used for target acquisition. Non-pilots employed a Type-I strategy consisting of high velocity head movements with large peak amplitudes, while high performance pilots used primarily low velocity, small amplitude head movements (Type-II) to acquire the targets (p<0.02). For both strategies peak head velocities increased as the angular distance to the target increased (p<0.01) resulting in greater discrimination between strategies for the 60° targets. While preflight eye velocity between strategies did not reach statistical significance, postflight testing revealed a decrease in eye velocity for Type-I compared with their preflight performance (p<0.02) for the 60° targets. Postflight, the Type-I group showed a decrease in head velocity (p<0.20) while the Type-II group compensated by increasing head velocity (p<0.02). Variability for both of the head and eye parameters tended to increase postflight for both types of strategies.     

Skylab experiment M-092: results of the first manned mission

Blood pressure at 30-sec intervals, heart rate, and percentage increase in leg volume continuously were recorded during a 25-min protocol in the M092 Inflight Lower Body Negative Pressure (LBNP) experiment carried out in the first manned Skylab mission. These data were collected during six tests on each crewman over a 5-month preflight period. The protocol consisted of a 5-min resting control period, 1 min at -8, 1 min at -16, 3 min at -30, 5 min at -40, and 5 min at -50 mm Hg LBNP. A 5-min recovery period followed. Inflight tests were performed at approximately 3-day intervals through the 28-day mission. Individual variations in cardiovascular responses to LBNP during the preflight period continued to be demonstrated in the inflight tests. Measurements of the calf indicated that a large volume of fluid was shifted out of the legs early in the flight and that a slower decrease in leg volume, presumably due to loss of muscle tissue, continued throughout the flight. Resting heart rates tended to be low early in the flight and to increase slightly as the flight progressed. Resting blood pressure varied but usually was characterized by slightly elevated systolic blood pressure, lower diastolic pressure, and higher pulse pressures than during preflight examinations. During LBNP inflight a much greater increase in leg volume occurred than in preflight tests. Large increases occurred even at the smallest levels of negative pressure, suggesting that the veins of the legs were relatively empty at the beginning of the LBNP. The greater volume of blood pooled in the legs was associated with greater increases of heart rate and diastolic pressure and larger falls of systolic and pulse pressure than seen in preflight tests. The LBNP protocol represented a greater stress inflight, and on three occasions it was necessary to stop the test early because of impending syncopal reactions. LBNP responses inflight appeared to predict the degree of postflight orthostatic intolerance. Postflight responses to LBNP during the first 48 hours were characterized by marked elevations of heart rate and instability of blood pressure. In addition, systolic and diastolic pressures were typically elevated considerably both at rest and also during stress. The time required for cardiovascular responses to return to preflight levels was much slower than in the case of Apollo crewmen.     

Skylab task and work performance (experiment M-151--time and motion study)

The primary objective of Experiment M151 was to study by means of time and motion analytic techniques the inflight adaptation of Skylab crewmen to a variety of task situations involving different types of activity. A parallel objective was to examine astronaut inflight performance for any behavioral stress effects associated with the working and living conditions of the Skylab environment. Training data provided the basis for comparison of preflight and inflight performance. Efficiency was evaluated through the adaptation function, namely, the relation of performance time over task trials. The results indicate that the initial changeover from preflight to inflight (or, from 1-G to zero-G) was accompanied by a substantial increase in performance time for most work and task activities. Equally important was the finding that crewmen adjusted rapidly to the weightless environment and became proficient in developing techniques with which to optimize task performance. By the end of the second inflight trial, most of the activities were performed almost as efficiently as on the last preflight trial. In addition, the analysis demonstrated the sensitivity of the adaptation function to differences in task and hardware configuration. The function was found to be more regular and less variable inflight than preflight. Translation and control of masses (large or small) were accomplished easily and efficiently through the rapid development of the arms and legs (and the entire body) as subtle guidance and restraint systems. Finally, the adaptation function provided no evidence of behavioral stress effects attributable to the Skylab environment.     

Mental representation of spatial cues in microgravity: Writing and drawing tests

Humans have mental representation of their environment based on sensory information and experience. A series of experiments has been designed to allow the identification of disturbances in the mental representation of three-dimensional space during space flight as a consequence of the absence of the gravitational frame of reference. This NASA/ESA-funded research effort includes motor tests complemented by psychophysics measurements, designed to distinguish the effects of cognitive versus perceptual-motor changes due to microgravity exposure. Preliminary results have been obtained during the microgravity phase of parabolic flight. These results indicate that the vertical height of handwritten characters and drawn objects is reduced in microgravity compared to normal gravity, suggesting that the mental representation of the height of objects and the environment change during short-term microgravity. Identifying lasting abnormalities in the mental representation of spatial cues will establish the scientific and technical foundation for development of preflight and in-flight training and rehabilitative schemes, enhancing astronaut performance of perceptual-motor tasks, for example, interaction with robotic systems during exploration-class missions.     

Unilateral centrifugation of the otoliths as a new method to determine bilateral asymmetries of the otolith apparatus in man

Ten healthy subjects were eccentrically rotated with constant speed on a Barany chair. Setting of a luminous line (LL) to the subjective vertical and ocular counter-roll (OCR) were evaluated. During eccentric position rotation subjects consistently reported illusory rotation and set the LL to an angle correlating to centrifugal force. At the same time an OCR of opposite direction was measured. In one patient, labyrinthectomized on the right side, only counterclockwise rotation of the luminous line was observed. Differences between "inner" and "outer" eye were evident for luminous line settings and OCR in some subjects. The results indicate that eccentric rotation is a valuable method to test for bilateral otolith asymmetries. The method can be applied to preflight tests of astronaut candidates for susceptibility to spacesickness. It is also offered for clinical evaluation of unilateral otolith impairments.     

光学采样成像系统传递函数补偿的试验研究

简要介绍了传递函数补偿(MTFC)验证试验,通过物理仿真和基于ISO20462的最小可觉差(JND)主观评价,对光学采样成像系统MTFC进行了研究。在实验室建立模拟采样成像系统进行物理仿真;通过对7次JND评价数据之间的相互验证,说明JND主观评价具有客观性,试验数据和MTFC验证结论准确可信。     

光学采样成像系统传递函数补偿的试验研究

简要介绍了传递函数补偿（MTFC）验证试验，通过物理仿真和基于ISO20462的最小可觉差（JND）主观评价，对光学采样成像系统MTFC进行了研究。在实验室建立模拟采样成像系统进行物理仿真；通过对7次JND评价数据之间的相互验证，说明JND主观评价具有客观性，试验数据和MTFC验证结论准确可信。     

The NASA Performance Assessment Workstation: cognitive performance during head-down bed rest

The NASA Performance Assessment Workstation was used to assess cognitive performance changes in eight males subjected to seventeen days of 6 degrees head-down bed rest. PAWS uses six performance tasks to assess directed and divided attention, spatial, mathematical, and memory skills, and tracking ability. Subjective scales assess overall fatigue and mood state. Subjects completed training trials, practice trials, bed rest trials, and recovery trials. The last eight practice trials and all bed rest trials were performed with subjects lying face-down on a gurney. In general, there was no apparent cumulative effect of bed rest. Following a short period of performance stabilization, a slight but steady trend of performance improvement was observed across all trials. For most tasks, this trend of performance improvement was enhanced during recovery. No statistically significant differences in performance were observed when comparing bed rest with the control period. Additionally, fatigue scores showed little change across all periods.     

“资源三号”高分辨率立体测绘卫星三线阵相机设计与验证

2012年1月9日,中国第一颗民用高分辨率立体测绘卫星——"资源三号"卫星在太原卫星发射中心成功发射,星上装载的三线阵相机可以获取2.1m地面像元分辨率(正视相机)和3.5m地面像元分辨率(前/后视相机)全色影像。文章介绍了三线阵相机的组成及工作原理、关键技术及实现情况、在轨运行和测试情况,给出了在轨测试的初步结果。在轨运行情况表明:相机设计合理,成像品质优异,各项指标满足1∶50 000制图应用的要求,实现了内方位元素的高精度稳定,对卫星定位精度达到国际先进水平发挥了关键作用。     

涡轮泵端面密封陛能与漏气量影响研究

从端面密封结构方面和密封性能稳定性影响因素方面,对在用和放置发动机密封性能检查中出现的泵端面密封泄漏量严重超标现象进行了深入分析以及模拟试验验证,并进行实际工作考核验证,给出了不影响使用的明确结论。     

去型号化接收机地面环境模拟试验充分性验证

为考察针对去型号化接收机的地面各项环境模拟试验是否能充分有效验证在轨工作环境,利用高灵敏度接收机对噪声的敏感特性,选取通道AGC作为环境模拟试验充分性验证参数;根据多台去型号化接收机的地面试验数据,分析多批次接收机的AGC参数一致性,得到去型号化接收机通道参数差异很小的结论;在此基础上,通过对多台高灵敏度接收机在轨AGC数据与地面环境试验AGC数据的比对,明确了由环境差异导致的AGC数值差异范围,可以为后续产品的地面环境试验和在轨飞行提供参考。对多台接收机在轨飞行接收机通道底噪变小的现象进行分析,得到地面环境试验模拟的电磁环境条件比空间电磁环境更恶劣的结论。     

Ion regulatory function of the human kidney in prolonged space flights.

Ten cosmonauts, who performed 30-175-day space flights aboard Salyut-4 and Salyut-6, and over 60 test subjects who were exposed to bed rest of up to 182 days and immersion of up to 56 days, were examined. The renal excretion of potassium and calcium increased, reaching a maximum by the 4-6th weeks in prolonged space flights and simulation studies. During the load tests with potassium and calcium salt, excretion postflight was much higher than preflight. During potassium chloride load tests a positive correlation between the blood content of aldosterone and potassium excretion existed, whereas during calcium lactate load tests an increased calcium excretion was accompanied by a decrease in blood parathyroid hormone concentration. The most probable cause of the negative ion balance in weightlessness is the reduced capacity of tissues to retain electrolytes due to the decreased ion pool capacity. Different exercises have been shown to exert a beneficial effect on electrolyte metabolism.     

货运飞船敏感器设备安装精度保证设计

位姿测量敏感器的安装精度直接影响航天器密封舱在轨姿态测量和交会对接控制精度。文章针对敏感器位姿在轨无法标定和载人航天器精度保证设计制约因素多的问题,对货运飞船精度保证设计中需要考虑的停放工装和重力影响、货物空满载、舱压和发射段振动等各种要素进行研究,提出一种融合多要素的载人航天器设备精度保证设计方法,确立基于单因素精度变化量的目标函数,实现精测结果评价量化,保证位姿测量敏感器精度满足在轨测量和控制要求。该方法已成功应用于“天舟”系列货运飞船,未来可应用于其他载人航天器研制中。     

趋势分析法在卫星在轨管理中的应用

深入研究趋势分析方法在卫星在轨管理中的应用,可以弥补长期以来运用参数门限方法发现异常的缺点,帮助在轨管理人员了解卫星重点部件的性能变化,及时发现相关部件的在轨异常,提高其专业分析能力。文章以范例的形式,利用趋势分析方法针对卫星重点部件的遥测参数进行了分析,并得到星上是否异常的结论。     

低轨互联网卫星在轨单粒子翻转分析及防护措施

空间单粒子翻转（SEU）对于在轨卫星寿命和可靠性有着较大的影响,然而,针对低轨互联网卫星1000～1200 km的典型极地轨道空间SEU,目前缺少在轨试验验证结果。文章对某型号的两颗卫星在轨7个月以来的SEU事件记录数据进行处理和分析,给出互联网卫星1050～1425 km不同轨道高度上的SEU事件发生的频度、区域及概率,结合在轨运行情况提出互联网卫星在轨单粒子翻转的软硬件防护设计措施。数据表明,在当前低轨互联网卫星的典型轨道高度上,对于抗单粒子翻转阈值为0.7 MeV·cm2/mg的低阈值SRAM器件,在轨SEU事件大部分发生在SAA区域,发生概率约为7.63×10-7 bit-1·d-1。结合卫星在轨空间防护设计经验,通过加强元器件选用控制、软硬件冗余设计、关键器件限流等措施,可以有效提高低轨互联网卫星的在轨可靠性。     

Central and regional hemodynamics in prolonged space flights.

This paper presents the results of measuring central and regional (head, forearm, calf) hemodynamics at rest and during provocative tests by the method of tetrapolar rheography in the course of Salyut-6-Soyuz and Salyut-7-Soyuz missions. The measurements were carried out during short-term (19 man-flights of 7 days in duration) and long-term (21 man-flights of 65-237 days in duration) manned missions. At rest, stroke volume (SV) and cardiac output (CO) as well as heart rate (HR) decreased insignificantly (in short-term flights) or remained essentially unchanged (in long-term flights). In prolonged flights CO increased significantly in response to exercise tests due to an increase in HR and the lack of changes in SV. After exercise tests SV and CO decreased as compared to the preflight level. During lower body negative pressure (LBNP) tests HR and CO were slightly higher than preflight. Changes in regional hemodynamics included a distinct decrease of pulse blood filling (PBF) of the calf, a reduction of the tone of large vessels of the calf and small vessels of the forearm. Head examination (in the region of the internal carotid artery) showed a decrease of PBF of the left hemisphere (during flight months 2-8) and a distinct decline of the tone of small vessels, mainly, in the right hemisphere. During LBNP tests the tone of pre- and postcapillary vessels of the brain returned to normal while PBF of the right and left hemisphere vessels declined. It has been shown that regional circulation variations depend on the area examined and are induced by a rearrangement of total hemodynamics of the human body in microgravity. This paper reviews the data concerning changes in central and regional circulation of men in space flights of different duration.     

Cardiovascular deconditioning during weightlessness simulation and the use of lower body negative pressure as a countermeasure to orthostatic intolerance

The cardiovascular function is one of the main disturbed by weightlessness: it is particularly affected by the astronaut's return to Earth, where symptoms linked to the cardiovascular deconditioning syndrom appear in the following forms: (1) orthostatic intolerance with its risk of syncope: (2) higher submaximal oxygen consumption for an equivalent work load. Lower Body Negative Pressure (LBNP) is intended to stimulate the venous system of the lower limbs; however, the specific effects of periodical LBNP sessions on the orthostatic intolerance have never been studied. With this objective in mind, 5 volunteers took part in two recent antiorthostatic bedrest experiments for 30 days. In the first experiment 3 subjects were submitted to several sessions of LBNP experiment per day and 2 others were controls; in the second experiment the LBNP group of the 1st one became controls and vice-versa. Two orthostatic investigations were performed: (1) 5 days before the bedrest; (2) at the end of the 30 day bedrest period. The results showed: (1) when the subjects were control, a high orthostatic intolerance post bedrest with 3 syncopes and one presyncopal state during the first minutes of the tilt test; (2) when the subjects were submitted to LBNP sessions, no orthostatic intolerance.     

Respiratory mechanics after 180 days space mission (EUROMIR'95)

The present study reports data on respiratory function of lung and chest wall following the 180 days long European - Russian EuroMir '95 space mission. Data reported refer to two subjects studied before the mission, on day 9 and 175 in flight and on days 1, 10, 12, 27 and 120 after return. In-flight vital capacity (VC) and expiratory reserve volume (ERV) were similar to those in supine posture, namely approximately 5% and approximately 30% less than in sitting posture. On day 1 after return, VC was reduced by approximately 30% in both postures. This reflected a decrease in ERV (approximately 0.5 L) and in IC (inspiratory capacity, approximately 1.7 L) that could be attributed to a marked weakening of the respiratory muscles. Regain of normal preflight values barely occurred 120 days after return. Post-flight pressure-volume curves of the lung, chest wall and total respiratory system are equal to preflight ones. The pressure-volume curve of the lung in supine posture is displaced to the right relative to sitting posture and shows a lower compliance. As far as the lung in-flight condition resembles that occurring in supine posture, this implies a lower compliance, a greater amount of blood in the pulmonary microvascular bed, a more homogeneous lung perfusion and therefore a greater microvascular filtration rate towards lung interstitium.     

Skylab experiment M-171 "Metabolic Activity"--results of the first manned mission

The experiment was performed to ascertain whether man's ability to perform mechanical work would be altered as a result of exposure to the weightless environment. Skylab II crewmen were exercised on a bicycle ergometer at loads approximating 25%, 50%, and 75% of their maximum oxygen uptake while their physiological responses were monitored. The results of these tests indicate that the crewmen had no significant decrement in their response to exercise during their exposure to zero gravity. Immediately postflight, however, all crewmen demonstrated an inability to perform the programmed exercise with the same metabolic effectiveness as they did both preflight and inflight. The most significant changes were elevated heart rates for the same work load and oxygen consumption (decreased oxygen pulse), decreased stroke volume, and decreased cardiac output at the same oxygen consumption level. It is apparent that the changes occurred inflight, but did not manifest themselves until the crewmen attempted to readapt to the 1-G environment.