Beyond Astronaut’s Capabilities: A Critical Review

Paper number

IAC-07-A5.2.04

Author

Dr. Dario Izzo, European Space Agency (ESA)/ESTEC, The Netherlands

Coauthor

Dr. Leopold Summerer, European Space Agency (ESA)/ESTEC, The Netherlands

Coauthor

Mr. Michael Broschart, The Netherlands

Coauthor

Mr. Luca Rossini, Italy

Year

2007

Abstract

Although prolonged exposition to the space environment has been extensively studied in orbiting space-station missions during the last decade, successful manned missions beyond Earth’s orbit, require the consideration of many other challenges. Huge distances from the Earth cause long time delays hampering real-time tele-operation and telemetry elaboration, and the exposure of astronauts to immense psycho-physiological stress. Robotic extravehicular activities require the development of hardware for semi-autonomous exploratory, inspection and maintenance tasks, reliably tele-controlled by human operators inside the spacecraft. These few examples suggests that if the endeavour of interplanetary manned space flight has to become a realistic future possibility, the technological support to astronauts will surely need to develop substantially.

This paper critically reviews the current scientific maturity of a number of diverse and sometime controversial visions on the future astronaut, and at the same time it gives an overview on new key technologies possibly able to boost astronauts’ capabilities in coping with critical, sometimes show-stopping, issues arising during different mission phases. The status of research on induced hypometabolic states is introduced together with the evaluation of its potential impact to space travel. Motor anticipatory interfaces are discussed as novel means to enable teleoperation, cancelling command signal delays. The main research results on Brain Machine Interfaces are then presented and their applicability for space discussed. Finally, Liquid Ventilation is assessed as a technology possibly suitable to extend the astronauts’ capabilities to withstand acceleration loads of significant magnitude, or to improve survival in harsh environments

We argue the critical parts of each one of these concepts showing that, while sometimes considered science fiction, a number of scientific results already allow, in some cases, to be more optimistic and in other cases, at least, to locate the showstoppers that will need to be removed should the corresponding technology be successfully developed.

Abstract document

IAC-07-A5.2.04.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-07-A5.2.04.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

To get the manuscript, please contact IAF Secretariat.