Space motion sickness preflight adaptation training: preliminary studies with prototype trainers

Preflight training frequently has been proposed as a potential solution to the problem of space motion sickness. The paper considers successively the otolith reinterpretation, the concept for a preflight adaptation trainer and the research with the Miami University Seesaw, the Wright Patterson Air-Force Base Dynamic Environment Simulator and the Visually Coupled Airborne Systems Simulator prototype adaptation trainers.     

Neurohumoral mechanism of space motion sickness.

This paper reviews existing hypotheses concerning the mechanisms of adaptation of the vestibular apparatus and related somatosensory systems to microgravity with reference to the flight data. Having in view theoretical concepts and experimental data accumulated in space flights, a conceptual model of the development of a funtional system responsible for the termination of vestibular dysfuntion and space motion sickness manifestations is presented. It is also shown that changes in the hormonal status during motion sickness induced by vestibular stimulation give evidence that endocrine regulation of certain functions can be involved in adaptive responses.     

Coping with space motion sickness in Spacelab missions.

A substantial number of persons, around 75%, making their first transition into orbital flight will need to adapt to this unique environment. The two most powerful instruments in the prevention of space motion sickness reside in the selection process and in acquiring adaptation-prelaunch. Today, neither of these means is practical. One logical alternative is to administer preventative medication to all or none. One candidate drug is a high-potency transdermal therapeutic system (TTS)-scopolamine. This is marketed in the nature of a patch that is affixed to the skin behind the ear 12 hr before need and delivers scopolamine into the blood stream for three days. We are systematically evaluating all claims for its high potency and low side effects. We are also evaluating new antimotion sickness remedies and new combinations of homergic drugs.     

Relative efficacy of the proposed Space Shuttle antimotion sickness medications

Space motion sickness has been estimated as affecting between 1/3 and 1/2 of all space flight participants. NASA has at the moment proposed a combination of promethazine and ephedrine (P/E) and one of scopolamine and dextroamphetamine (S/D), both given orally, as well as a transdermally applied scopolamine (TAS), as preventive and ameliorative measures. The reported double-blind study, tests the early phase actions and efficacy of the transdermal scopolamine (Transderm (TM)-V of ALZA Corporation) and compares these in detail to the oral medications. Motion sickness resistance was tested by standardized head movements while accelerating at 0.2 degree/sec2 to a maximum rotation of 240 degrees/sec, with an intermediate plateau of 10 min at 180 degrees/sec. To permit weighting motion sickness protection against other system influences, cardiovascular, psychological (subjective and objective), and visual parameter changes were documented for the three therapeutic modes. The relative impact of the various modalities on operational and experimental components of space missions is discussed. A comparison to intramuscularly administered promethazine (a backup therapeutic mode suggested for Space Shuttle use) is also included.     

Individual differences in susceptibility to motion sickness among six Skylab astronauts

One of the Skylab experiments dealt with motion sickness, comparing susceptibility in the workshop aloft with susceptibility preflight and postflight. Tests were conducted on and after mission-day 8 (MD 8) by which time the astronauts were adapted to working conditions. Stressful accelerations were generated by requiring the astronauts, with eyes covered, to execute standardized head movements (front, back, left, and right) while in a chair that could be rotated at angular velocities up to 30 rpm. The selected endpoint was either 150 discrete head movements or a very mild level of motion sickness. In all rotation experiments aloft, the five astronauts tested (astronaut 1 did not participate) were virtually symptom free, thus demonstrating lower susceptibility aloft than in preflight and postflight tests on the ground when symptoms were always elicited. Inasmuch as the eyes were covered and the canalicular stimuli were the same aloft as on the ground, it would appear that lifting the stimulus to the otolith organs due to gravity was an important factor in reducing susceptibility to motion sickness even though the transient stimuli generated under the test conditions were substantial and abnormal in pattern. Some of the astronauts experienced motion sickness under operational conditions aloft or after splashdown, but attention is centered chiefly on symptoms manifested in zero gravity. None of the Skylab-II crew (astronauts 1 to 3) was motion sick aloft. Astronaut 6 of the Skylab-III crew (astronauts 4 to 6) experienced motion sickness within an hour after transition into orbit; this constitutes the earliest such diagnosis on record under orbital flight conditions. The eliciting stimuli were associated with head and body movements, and astronaut 6 obtained relief by avoiding such movements and by one dose of the drug combination 1-scopolamine 0.35 mg + d-amphetamine 5.0 mg. All three astronauts of Skylab-III experienced motion sickness in the workshop where astronaut 6 was most susceptible and astronaut 4, least susceptible. The higher susceptibility of SL-III crewmen in the workshop, as compared with SL-II crewmen, may be attributable to the fact that they were based in the command module less than one-third as long as SL-II crewmen. The unnatural movements, often resembling acrobatics, permitted in the open spaces of the workshop revealed the great potentialities in weightlessness for generating complex interactions of abnormal or unusual vestibular and visual stimuli. Symptoms were controlled by body restraint and by drugs, but high susceptibility to motion sickness persisted for 3 days and probably much longer; restoration was complete on MD 7. From the foregoing statements it is clear that on and after MD 8 the susceptibility of SL-II and SL-III crewmen to motion sickness under experimental conditions was indistinguishable. The role played by the acquisition of adaptation effects prior to MD 8 is less clear and is a subject to be discussed.     

Space escalator,semi-perpetual motion in space

A novel orbital transfer system using the mutual action-reaction of two spacecraft as the main propulsive force is proposed. A set of space platforms which are deployed on circular orbits of various altitude and have mobility to transfer to other orbits by themselves can work on a very little propellant.     

An appraisal of the value of vitamin B12 in the prevention of motion sickness

Unpublished reports have suggested that hydroxycobalamin (B12, i.m.) prevents motion sickness. Some biomedical evidence supports this contention in that B12 influences the metabolism of histidine and choline; dietary precursors to neurotransmitters with established roles in motion sickness. Susceptibility to motion sickness was evaluated after B12 (1000 micrograms, i.m.). Subjects initially completed vestibular function and motion sickness susceptibility tests to establish normal vestibular function. The experimental motion stressor was a modified coriolis sickness susceptibility test. Subjects executed standardized head movements at successively higher RPM until a malaise III endpoint was reached. Following two baseline tests with this motion stressor, subjects received a B12 injection, a second injection two weeks later, and a final motion sickness test three weeks later. No significant differences in susceptibility were noted after B12. Hematological parameters revealed no B12 deficiency before injection. The possibility that patients with B12 deficiencies are more susceptible to motion sickness cannot be ruled out.     

A new goldfish model to evaluate pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic effects of drugs used for motion sickness in different gravity loads.

This paper proposes a new goldfish model to predict pharmacodynamic/pharmacokinetic effects of drugs used to treat motion sickness administered in differing gravity loads. The assumption of these experiments is that the vestibular system is dominant in producing motion sickness and that the visual system is secondary or of small import in the production of motion sickness. Studies will evaluate the parameter of gravity and the contribution of vision to the role of the neurovestibular system in the initiation of motion sickness with and without pharmacologic agents. Promethazine will be studied first. A comparison of data obtained in different groups of goldfish will be done (normal vs. acutely and chronically bilaterally blinded vs. sham operated). Some fish will be bilaterally blinded 10 months prior to initiation of the experiment (designated the chronically bilaterally blinded group of goldfish) to evaluate the neuroplasticity of the nervous system and the associated return of neurovestibular function. Data will be obtained under differing gravity loads with and without a pharmacological agent for motion sickness. Experiments will differentiate pharmacological effects on vision vs. neurovestibular input to motion sickness. Comparison of data obtained in the normal fish and in acutely and chronically bilaterally blinded fish with those obtained in fish with intact and denervated otoliths will differentiate if the visual or neurovestibular system is dominant in response to altered gravity and/or drugs. Experiments will contribute to validation of the goldfish as a model for humans since plasticity of the central nervous system allows astronauts to adapt to the altered visual stimulus conditions of 0-g. Space motion sickness may occur until such an adaptation is achieved.     

美国航天基金会发布《2009年航天报告》

美国航天基金会是一家非营利性组织,成立于1983年,主要研究航天发展态势、市场状况等。其研究数据比较客观,具有一定的参考价值。 该基金会于2009年4月发布的《2009年航天报告》由航天经济、航天产品与服务、基础设施、影响与劳动力以及展望五部分组成,记录了2008年各国政府、公司和创业者们所取得的历史性成就及其继续利用和探测太空的大胆计划,并对未来进行了展望。     

空间技术实验与空间技术发展

空间技术实验是空间技术发展的需要,是空间技术发展的先驱和阶梯。本文以美国、苏联、印度、巴西为例说明空间技术实验在过去和未来对空间技术发展的必要性和迫切性。文中研究了90年代世界空间技术实验的发展趋势和具体项目,探讨了我国空间技术实验的现状。     

即将建成的“宇宙城堡”——国际空间站

经过十多年的建造,世界上投入资金最大、参与国家最多、建造周期最长、技术水平最高、应用范围最广的国际空间站于2011年2月基本建成。它包含13个增压舱,其中8个是用于科学实验和航天员居住,1个为空间站提供初始推进、姿控、通信和储存,4个用于对接。另外,还装有7段桁架结构、4对巨型太阳能电池阵、1个移动服务系统、舱外仪器设     

空间站空间因特网与空间通信链路设计

为改善在空间站长期值守的航天员的业务生活,提出建立空间站网吧,为航天员提供因特网服务的构想。为此分析研究空间站空间因特网服务系统及其关键技术,提出空间站空间因特网服务系统构建方案。结合这一系统构建方案,一是研究解决了支持复杂异构网络运行的空间因特网网络协议设计技术,空间站空间因特网直接采用TCP/IP协议,并通过系统设计,较好地克服了TCP/IP协议不能适应空间通信链路的难题,支持采用基于TCP/IP协议的商用货架(COTS)软、硬件产品,可明显降低空间站空间因特网服务系统建设与维护成本;二是研究解决了涉及空间站测控通信网运行安全和空间信息安全的空间通信链路设计技术,空间站在同一条空间通信链路同时传输空间因特网数据和空间站测控通信数据,空间通信链路采用CCSDS的AOS协议,并通过建立虚拟的物理信道,解决了空间因特网数据和空间站测控通信数据的安全隔离问题,能满足空间站测控通信网运行安全和空间信息安全的要求。     

英国将成立航天局

<正>英国政府3月23日宣布将组建英国航天局,以一个统一的航天政策指挥机构来取代现有的英国国家航天中心(BNSC)体制,领导全国的民用航天投资。一份政府政策文件称,英国航天局"将拥有协调航天政策和提升国际地     

航天推进新技术开拓太空探索新时代

6月22日凌晨,世界上第一个采用光压推进的“宇宙”1航天器发射升空。虽然这次发射由于种种原因未取得成功,但它向人们展示了新型推进技术的光明前景。无独有偶。5月24日,美国航宇局宣布,1977年发射的旅行者1号携带着录有55种语言和90分钟音乐集锦的磁碟及刻着各种几何图案的“地球名片”,已飞出了太阳系的激波边界,成为第一个进入太阳系外空间的人造航天器。在这次具有历史意义的航行中,旅行者1号在近28年内飞距太阳140亿公里,采用新型推进技术进行多次轨道机动和姿态保持是保证整个飞行任务的关键。     

航天邮票大展览

1948年,世界第一枚航天邮票诞生——为纪念布利斯堡建立100周年,美国于1948年11月5日发行了"布利斯堡火箭发射基地"邮票。邮票图为美国得克萨斯州布利斯堡火箭发射基地和著名的V-2运载火箭发射场景,是世界范围内首次披露航天内容的邮票。此后,随着人类航天事业的不断进步与飞速发展,为纪念人类航天足     

国外与空间碎片有关的国际空间法热点问题研究述评

与空间碎片有关的国际空间法研究主要包括对空间碎片的定义、空间环境保护制度、空间物体的登记制度及空间损害赔偿责任制度等问题的研究。联合国和平利用外层空间委员会法律小组经过多年的研究和讨论,对于“空间物体”与“空间碎片”的定义及其关系问题的研究基本上获得了国际社会的普遍认可,     

任务空间内空间机器人的复合自适应控制

对于本体姿态受控而位置不受控的空间机器人系统 ,考虑存在参数不确定性 ,本文在任务空间内提出了一种复合自适应控制方法 ,证明了这种自适应方法不但可以保证末端执行器任务空间内位置轨迹跟踪误差的渐近收敛 ,而且还可保证关节空间内角速率偏差及估计误差的渐近收敛。仿真结果验证了算法的有效性