Changing Gravity Levels – Manual Control and Spatial Orientation Adaptation During Hypo-Gravity Centrifugation

Paper number

IAC-16,A1,2,7,x33471

Coauthor

Dr. Laurence R. Young, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), United States

Coauthor

Dr. Faisal Karmali, Harvard Medical School, United States

Coauthor

Dr. Raquel Galvan-Garza, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), United States

Coauthor

Prof. Torin Clark, University of Colorado Boulder, United States

Year

2016

Abstract

We are creatures of Earth’s gravity – yet we increasingly are asked to work, locomote, explore and even fly in altered gravity environments. Our ability to adapt to G levels as different as microgravity in orbit, lunar gravity or Martial gravity is impressive, but poorly understood. And not at all predictable from one astronaut to another. Our research is aimed at human adaptation to “hypo-gravity” or “fractional gravity” such as lunar or Martian. Since we can only produce brief periods of hypo-gravity in parabolic flight, and do not yet have a human centrifuge on the ISS, we use a ground centrifuge to manipulate only the G-z component of centripetal acceleration and explore the transitions between different G levels. Human spatial orientation is measure by the Subjective Visual Vertical (SVV) and manual control effects are measured by a roll attitude stabilization task. Both activities inform the process of adaptation and may be used to design pre-flight training and to assess an individual’s ability to “learn to learn”.
Each transition of centrifuge speed and resulting G-level, of course, produces a transient disruption of both SVV and roll tilt control capability. As expected, roll tilt in reduced G-z is underestimated and attitude control is disturbed, especially at lower frequencies. Habituation to repeated roll stimuli also occurs, but differs among subjects. To control possible motion sickness during centrifugation we explore the use of promethazine – and investigate its influence on basic vestibular sensitivity to acceleration.
Supported by NSBRI through NASA NCC 9-58

Abstract document

IAC-16,A1,2,7,x33471.brief.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-16,A1,2,7,x33471.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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