Journal article
Commercial Spaceflight Participant G-Force Tolerance During Centrifuge-Simulated Suborbital Flight
Aviation, space, and environmental medicine, v 83(10), pp 929-934
01 Oct 2012
PMID: 23066613
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
BLUE RS, RICCITELLO JM, TIZARD J, HAMILTON RJ, VANDERPLOEG JM. Commercial spaceflight participant G-force tolerance during centrifuge-simulated suborbital flight. Aviat Space Environ Med 2012; 83:929-34.
Introduction: Medical knowledge of the human body in microgravity and hypergravity is based upon studies of healthy individuals well-conditioned for such environments. Little data exist regarding the effects of spaceflight on untrained commercial passengers. We examined the responses of potential spaceflight participants (SFP) to centrifuge G-force exposure. Methods: There were 77 individuals (65 men, 12 women), 22-88 yr old, who underwent 6 centrifuge runs over 48 h. Day 1 consisted of two +G(z) runs (peak = 3.5 + G(z), run 2) and two +G(x) runs (peak = 6.0 + G(x), run 4). Day 2 consisted of two runs approximating a suborbital spaceflight profile. Data included blood pressure, e ectrocardiogram, and postrun questionnaires regarding motion sickness, disorientation, greyout, and other symptoms. Results: Of the 77 participants, average age was 50.4 +/- 12.7 yr. Average heart rate (HR) varied by sex and direction of G-exposure (+G(z): F 150 +/- 19, M 123 +/- 27; +G(x): F 135 +/- 30, M 110 +/- 27). Age and peak HR were inversely related (HR < 120bpm: 60.2 +/- 12.2 yr, HR > 120: 47.1 +/- 10.9 yr). HR during peak G-exposure for the final run was associated with post-run imbalance (no imbalance: HR 126 +/- 26, imbalance: HR 145 +/- 21); no other significant hemodynamic change, sex, or age variation was associated with imbalance. Age and greyout were inversely associated; there was no association between greyout and vital sign change, sex, or G-force magnitude. Baseline/pretrial mean arterial pressure (MAP) was not associated with any symptoms. Discussion: The results suggest that most individuals with well-controlled medical conditions can withstand acceleration forces involved in launch/landing profiles of commercial spaceflight vehicles. Further investigation will help refine which conditions present significant risk during suborbital flight and beyond.
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Details
- Title
- Commercial Spaceflight Participant G-Force Tolerance During Centrifuge-Simulated Suborbital Flight
- Creators
- Rebecca S. Blue - The University of Texas Medical Branch at GalvestonJon M. Riccitello - The University of Texas Medical Branch at GalvestonJulia Tizard - College Station Medical CenterRichard J. Hamilton - Drexel UniversityJames M. Vanderploeg - College Station Medical Center
- Publication Details
- Aviation, space, and environmental medicine, v 83(10), pp 929-934
- Publisher
- Aerospace Medical Association
- Number of pages
- 6
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- College of Medicine
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000309329000001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-84867418364
- Other Identifier
- 991019335325404721
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