Human Spaceflight Research Papers - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

2025, National Defense

This paper discusses the key technological and nontechnological issues involved in disposing of high-level nuclear waste by launching it into space. Space disposal has two major benefits. First, it will permanently remove the burden and... more

2025, 10th International XR-Metaverse Conference. Maastricht, Netherlands, June 24-27, 2025

Background • In September 2024, the first civilian spacewalk marked a turning point in private space tourism, with companies like SpaceX, Virgin Galactic, and Blue Origin accelerating the development of commercial spaceflight programs [16][17][18]. • Spacecraft windows play a vital role in shaping the tourist experience, serving as the primary interface with outer space and influencing perceptions of safety, immersion, and overall satisfaction [4][9][15]. • While real spaceflight remains limited, VR technologies offer immersive alternatives. These virtual experiences can affect how prospective tourists evaluate ideal window designs for future missions [5][13].

2025, Travel and Tourism Research Association

Background Space tourism is an emerging field within commercial spaceflight, drawing growing attention from multiple Existing studies have explored consumer motivations (Kim et al., Rees, 2023) and the physical and psychological risks associated with travel (Cohen, 2022; Spector, 2020). However, studies addressing physical and psychological risks in environments have primarily focused on astronauts, providing limited insights into the risks faced by general space tourists. These often differ in and mental preparedness and may face unique risks during short-duration commercial flights (Spector, 2020). Despite calls for an integrated approach to ensure health and safety (Ashford, 1990; Reddy al., 2012), practical responses remain insufficient. A understanding of how these risks affect space tourists is critical for the sustainable development of the space tourism industry (Langston, 2017).

2025, IEEE Aerospace Conference

2025, Current Treatment Options in Cardiovascular Medicine

As humans spend more time in space, there is an interest in harnessing the unique advantages of microgravity environment for the advancement of medicine. While astronauts initially face physiological challenges due to shifts in pressure and fluid dynamics, they quickly adapt to weightlessness. This free-floating environment offers unique opportunities to overcome limitations in biomedical research and drug development that exist on Earth. By optimizing biomanufacturing processes and advancing therapeutics, microgravity has the potential to revolutionize medicine for both astronauts and patients on Earth.

2025, Riga

В лекционном курсе рассматриваются проблемы вдохновения, как особого состояния талантливых людей, позволяющего достичь ими успехов в различных сферах человеческой деятельности: учебе, творчестве (науке, литературе, театре, музыке, живописи, скульптуре и пр.,) различных видах спорта, в здоровье и т.д. Значение вдохновения невозможно переоценить. Оно наполняет наше творчество светом, позволяет выйти за границы обыденного, создает новые миры и новые реальности. Интересно, что для каждого человека источник вдохновения может быть своим. Для одного это наука, для другого-музыка, для третьего-природа, для четвертого-любовь, искусство или религия. Важно лишь одно: уметь увидеть этот миг, осознать его и позволить ему взять над собой верх. Как и все творческие люди, ученые знают, что такое вдохновение, как трудно его порой бывает найти и сохранить. Зато если находят, то потом с удовольствием делятся своей мудростью со всеми желающими-и это по-настоящему радует. Основная задача лекций-показать возникновение особого только присущего изменению интеллектуальной мозговой деятельности талантливых и гениальных людей-вдохновения-и на конкретных примерах, реализации на практике этого явления в различных сферах деятельности человека. Данные лекции предназначены для студентов ВУЗов и широкой читающей публики (особенно-для юных читателей и их молодых родителей).

2025, TechPort: NASA Platform for Autonomous Systems (NPAS)

2025, Aronotical Engineering

SpaceX's mission to colonize Mars represents a pivotal step toward making humanity a Multi-Planetary Species. This paper chronicles the evolution of SpaceX's Mars mission, from its visionary origins in 2002 to the development of the Starship program and future plans for a selfsustaining Martian colony. By examining technological innovations, current achievements, and long-term goals, we highlight the challenges and opportunities of interplanetary exploration. Through strategic partnerships, reusable rocket technology,and ISRU, SpaceX is redefining space travel. This paper also explores the societal and scientific implications of a Martian colony, emphasizing its role in ensuring humanity's survival and inspiring global collaboration.

2025

This paper examines the early history of the United States Air Force’s UFO programs, from the 1947 wave of sightings through the closure of Project Blue Book at the end of 1969. Initially marked by genuine inquiry—most notably under Project Sign—the Air Force seriously considered the possibility that UFOs represented advanced, possibly non-human technology. However, as Cold War tensions grew, national security concerns began to override open investigation. Projects Grudge and Blue Book increasingly emphasized public reassurance, downplaying unexplained cases and reframing the phenomenon as misidentification or psychological aberration. The 1953 CIA-led Robertson Panel cemented this shift, recommending a policy of debunking to control public perception. This brief account illustrates how UFO policy became a function not of discovery, but of strategic containment.

2025

Below is a detailed, science-focused plan for Mars exploration that combines our current knowledge with future technological advances and strategic milestones. This plan is built on decades of research-and is designed not only to answer fundamental questions about Mars' history and habitability but also to pave the way for eventual human exploration.

2025, Acta Astronautica

Land-based extreme environments (e.g. polar expeditions, Antarctic research stations, confinement chambers) have often been used as analog settings for spaceflight. These settings share similarities with the conditions experienced during space missions, including confinement, isolation and limited possibilities for evacuation. To determine the utility of analog settings for understanding human spaceflight, researchers have examined the extent to which the individual characteristics (e.g., personality) of people operating in extreme environments can be generalized across contexts [1]. Building on previous work, and utilising new and preexisting data, the present study examined the extent to which personal value motives could be generalized across extreme environments. Four populations were assessed; mountaineers (N =59), military personnel (N = 25), Antarctic over-winterers (N = 21) and Mars simulation participants (N = 12). All participants completed the Portrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ; Schwartz; 2) capturing information on 10 personal values. Rank scores suggest that all groups identified Self-direction, Stimulation, Universalism and Benevolence as important values and acknowledged Power and Tradition as being low priorities. Results from difference testing suggest the extreme environment groups were most comparable on Self-direction, Stimulation, Benevolence, Tradition and Security. There were significant between-group differences on five of the ten values. Overall, findings pinpointed specific values that may be important for functioning in challenging environments. However, the differences that emerged on certain values highlight the importance of considering the specific population when comparing results across extreme settings. We recommend that further research examine the impact of personal value motives on indicators of adjustment, group working, and performance. Information from such studies could then be used to aid selection and training processes for personnel operating in extreme settings, and in space.

2025

The effort described in the present report was directed toward development of a technique for quantitatively determining role of man requirements for Spacelab missions. The role of man was operationally defined as the allocation of necessary experiment functions to crew members. The set of functions to be performed by a particular scientific crew member then defines his role. To meet the objectives of the effort, a generalized Spacelab experiment operational sequence was developed and the parameters necessary to describe each single function in the sequence were identified. Since a review of currently available payload planning data showed that the necessary detailed data were not available, a set of functional descriptor worksheets were developed. The methodological approach to defining the role of man was defined as a series of trade studies using a digital simulation technique. The trade-off variables identified include scientific crew size, skill mix, and location. An existing digital simulation program suitable for the required analyses was identified and obtained. The phase of the effort reported here thus served to identify the required data for studies of Spacelab experiment functional allocation, develop an approach to collecting these data from the payload community, and to specify the analytical methods necessary to quantitatively determine the role of man in specific Spacelab experiments. Conclusions and results of the present study include the following: Conclusions: * The operational definition for determination of the role of man in Spacelab experiments is a trade-off approachbased on the effectiveness of alternative allocations of functions to crew members. * Displays -The class of elements which recode transmission signals into energy sensible to the human observer. * Controls -The class of elements which recode commands by the observer to electrical or other signals suitable for transmission within the system. * Recording System -The class of elements which produces a permanent record of events and variable levels. * Experimental Apparatus -The class of elements which modify the phenomenon of interest to match required conditions. * Phenomena -The characteristics, processes, or effects of interest to the experimenter relative to: * celestial targets * the earth, its atmosphere, & magnetosphere * samples, materials, or objects in or near the shuttle * Data Analysis Subsystem -The class of elements which carry out transformations of transducer outputs. * Crew member location-ground or on-orbit * Automation of some functions in the network * Design studies to optimize the man-machine interface * Procedures The present flow network model was developed to establish a technique for trade studies regarding the roles, responsibilities, and performance of man in Spacelab experiment operations. The generalized second level flows represent a point of departure for development of specific experiment netowork models and parameterization of these models. * Determination of role/skill requirements as described in Ref. 2. * Development of allocation candidates based on the above steps. * Preparation of SAINT input based on the above steps. Conduct of SAINT data runs. * Trade studies using SAINT output to identify acceptable allocations.

2025, Deep Space Gateway Concept Science Workshop

2025, NASA STI/Recon Technical Report N

2025

This chapter addresses the subject of risk management in a broad sense. Section 2.1 defines the concept of risk. There are several definitions, but all have as a common theme the fact that risk is a combination of the undesirable consequences of accident scenarios and the probability of these scenarios. In Section 2.2 we will discuss the concepts of Risk-Informed Decision Making (RIDM) and Continuous Risk Management (CRM), which together provide a disciplined environment for proactive decision making with regard to risk. Payload Capability Reliability Cost & Schedule Performance Measures* * These are arbitrary, notional choices Performance commitments are set at performance measure values that correspond to given risk tolerances Risk tolerances given by the shaded areas under the pdfs, on the "bad" side of the performance commitments

2025

Background The Integrated Medical Model (IMM) captures organizational knowledge across the space medicine, training, operations, engineering, and research domains. IMM uses this knowledge in the context of a mission and crew profile to forecast risks to crew health and mission success (Figure 1). The IMM establishes a quantified, statistical relationship among medical conditions, risk factors, available medical resources, and crew health and mission outcomes. These relationships may provide an appropriate foundation for developing an in-flight medical decision support tool that helps optimize the use of medical resources and assists in overall crew health management by an autonomous crew with extremely limited interactions with ground support personnel and no chance of resupply. Methods

2025

This paper critically examines the historical narrative of the U.S. Moon landings (1969-1972) through Michael Cunningham's Theory of Educide, which posits that systematic rewriting of history and education constitutes a "genocide of education" to control narratives. By comparing official accounts taught in history books with inconsistencies in the post-Apollo space program, the study questions why human lunar exploration ceased despite claimed technological success. Five main points analyze discrepancies in the Apollo narrative, reasons for not returning to the Moon, and the shift to low Earth orbit missions. Applying Cunningham's theory, the paper argues that media framing and institutional control suppressed alternative interpretations, perpetuating educide. Five reasons explain the withholding of truth,

2025

In order to perpetuate the achievements of Human Spaceflight in the context of the International Space Station (ISS), DLR supported by Airbus DS and other external partners, by extensive use of its Concurrent Engineering Facility, has conducted a thorough Post-ISS concept study for a LEO architecture referred to as Orbital-Hub. The Orbital-Hub is based on a small crewed LEO platform including a human-tended Free Flyer, and its design has been centred on financial feasibility and user needs in the frame of human spaceflight. Within this paper the Orbital-Hub’s Free Flyer, which consists of a pressurized laboratory area, an external payload or experiment platform and a service compartment, is highlighted with respect to its diverse purposes and applications. Based on a detailed collection of current and forecasted user needs with the help of the science community, the Free Flyer is designed as versatile multi-purpose platform meeting a wide range of requirements for different use case...

2025, CEAS Space Journal

The International Space Station (ISS) is the greatest endeavour in low Earth orbit since the beginning of the space age and the culmination of human outposts like Skylab and Mir. While a clear schedule has yet to be drafted, it is expected that ISS will cease operation in the 2020s. What could be the layout for a human outpost in LEO with lessons learnt from ISS? What are the use cases and applications of such an outpost in the future? The System Analysis Space Segment (SARA) group of the German Aerospace Center (DLR) investigated these and other questions and developed the Orbital Hub concept. In this paper an overview is presented of how the overall concept has been derived and its properties and layout are described. Starting with a workshop involving the science community, the scientific requirements have been derived and strawman payloads have been defined for use in further design activities. These design activities focused on Concurrent Engineering studies, where besides DLR employees also participants from industry and astronauts were involved. The result is an expandable concept that is composed of two main parts, the Base Platform, home for a permanent crew of up to 3 astronauts, and the Free Flyer, an uncrewed autonomous research platform. This modular approach provides one major advantage: the decoupling of the habitat and payload leading to increased quality of the micro gravity environment. The former provides an environment for human physiology experiments, while the latter allows science without the perturbations caused by a crew, e.g. material experiments or Earth observation. The Free Flyer is designed to operate for up to 3 months on its own, but can dock with the space station for maintenance and experiment servicing. It also has a hybrid propulsions system, chemical and electrical, for different applications. The hub's design allows launch with just three launches, as the total mass of all hub parts is about 60,000 kg. The main focus of the design is on autonomy and reducing crew maintenance and repair efforts, and reducing the need for extravehicular activities. Following a description of the design approach and technical details, a cost estimation and a detailed discussion of the use cases for such a station concept, along with the possible scenarios of international cooperation, are also presented in this paper.

2025

As highlighted by human factors experts of the IAA, complementary studies have to be carried out in the field of human sciences to better understand psychological and sociological issues in long duration spaceflight and in isolated and extreme planetary environment. In order to minimize operational risks, efficient communication, problem solving capability and teamwork efficiency, which are considered key behavioural competencies by NASA, have to be tested. It is proposed here to assess the collaboration performance of astronauts in the context of a team spatial orientation task in planetary-analog environments. The experiment was originally designed and tested at the Mars Desert Research Station (crew 185, December 2017). Interestingly, some failures have been observed due to imperfect spatial representation, uncertainties and some communication problems. A similar experiment has been carried out using a virtual environment. N=62 participants have been paired up. Both teammates mus...

2025

The colonization of Mars has been addressed by many authors but there is still a lack of methodology to determine its feasibility in terms of costs and logistics. We propose a new approach based on a mathematical model of the required payload mass per year that has to be sent to Mars to sustain the life of the settlers during the long period of development of the colony that precedes the self-sufficiency capability. As the required mass is highly dependent on the available working time of the settlers, it is suggested to transform the mass estimation problem into the estimation of the annual missing time to produce all objects needed for the daily life of the settlers. The annual missing time is calculated using five parameters. The first is the number of settlers. The second is the working time capacity per person. The third is an estimate of the total time per person and per year that is required to produce all objects needed for a single person. The fourth is called the sharing f...

2025, Astrobiology

Viruses constitute a significant part of the human microbiome, so wherever humans go, viruses are brought with them, even on space missions. In this mini review, we focus on the International Space Station (ISS) as the only current human habitat in space that has a diverse range of viral genera that infect microorganisms from bacteria to eukaryotes. Thus, we have reviewed the literature on the physical conditions of space habitats that have an impact on both virus transmissibility and interaction with their host, which include UV radiation, ionizing radiation, humidity, and microgravity. Also, we briefly comment on the practices used on space missions that reduce virus spread, that is, use of antimicrobial surfaces, spacecraft sterilization practices, and air filtration. Finally, we turn our attention to the health threats that viruses pose to space travel. Overall, even though efforts are taken to ensure safe conditions during human space travel, for example, preflight quarantines of astronauts, we reflect on the potential risks humans might be exposed to and how those risks might be aggravated in extraterrestrial habitats.

2025

UFO contact cases change with the understanding and technology of the times. What contactees reported in the 1950s or even before is radically different than what they report today. The aliens change, their ships change, and so their places of origin. Are we being beguiled or are these encounters being manufactured by a supreme intelligence that draws on our cultural beliefs?

2025, 38th COSPAR …

In this paper some results of the study group of the Team FREDNET is presented, which designs a lunar rover for an open source mission to the Moon within the Google Lunar X-Prize (GLXP). Team FREDNET (TFN) is an open source non-profit... more

2025, SSRN Electronic Journal

The recent past has seen robots develop into autonomous artificial agents capable of executing complex tasks. In the near future, robots will likely develop the ability to adapt and learn from their surroundings. Robots have selfreliance, accuracy, and can operate in hostile environments -all attributes well suited for space exploration. Robots also reduce mission costs, increase design flexibility, and maximize data production. On the other hand, when faced with new scenarios and unexpected events, robots pale in comparison with their intuitive and creative human counterparts. The future of space exploration will have to intelligently balance the flexibility and ingenuity of humans with robust and sophisticated robotic systems. The Cooperation of Humans And Robots for Mars (CHARM) team at the 2011 Space Studies Program of the International Space University integrated international, intercultural, and interdisciplinary perspectives to investigate Mars exploration objectives, robotic capabilities, and the interaction between humans and robots. Based on the goals of various space agencies, this paper selects an exploration objective for the time frame between 2015 and 2035, and drafts different scenarios to accomplish this objective. Each scenario uses different degrees of human-robot interaction. A theoretical model is then developed based on discrete requirements to help create an effective combination of human and robots to achieve the mission objective. This model is used to select the most appropriate of the proposed mission scenarios. The CHARM model uses an interdisciplinary approach, including technical, societal, political, financial, and scientific perspectives. The CHARM team believes that this decision-making model can be used to select missions more efficiently and rationally, thus enabling greater feasibility to space missions.

2025

This document delves deep into the philosophy and approach of NASA's leadership-a strategy defined by the establishment of clear objectives, the attainment of measurable results, continuous performance evaluation, and an enduring commitment to technological innovation. 1. Executive Summary NASA, as one of the leading symbols of space exploration, has always focused on setting precise and strategic objectives. Its management approach centers on measurable outcomes, continuous assessment of performance, and the adoption of cutting-edge technologies. This strategy has not only solidified NASA's historic achievements but also paved the way for future accomplishments, including the Artemis program and expansive human missions to Mars.

2025, Actual Magazine, by Olivia Rose Thompson, 22 May

In France, as elsewhere in the world, the astronauts, overwhelmingly, are men. All nationalities combined, women only represent a little more than 10% of people who have been to space, recalls Alice Gorman, archaeologist specializing in the space sector at Flinders University in Adelaide (Australia). The first of them was the Soviet Valentina Tereshkova, in 1963, two years after Yuri Gagarin. In the midst of the Cold War, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev even congratulated her live on the radio. But after this media stunt, the blow subsided. It was not until 1982 that Svetlana Savitskaya flew into space. In the meantime, around thirty men from the Soviet bloc experienced weightlessness.

2025, Rich. JL & Tech.

(inspiring this fictional account through drawings of Spaceport America). 2 While this Article focuses on Virgin Galactic, other entities are developing commercial space travel technologies. See, e.g., Associated Press, U.S. Space Tourism Firm Launches S. Korea Deal, DAILY RECORD (Morristown, N.J.), Dec. 18, 2009, at UPDATES01 (reporting that Xcor Aerospace recently struck a deal with South Korea to conduct launches in that nation). Xcor must still complete the approval process and obtain the necessary export licensing, but the spaceship should be in the air by 2011. See id.

2025

Due to the high number of systems in a space mission architecture and to their complex interactions, identifying risk and critical operational dependencies is not obvious. Traditional systems engineering methodology and risk assessment does not capture the impact of interactions between systems nor the cascading effects of disruptions. Based on these considerations, the Systems Operational Dependency Analysis methodology was developed for use by systems analysts and decision makers. This methodology utilizes a parametric model of interdependencies between systems to quantify the direct and indirect impact of system disruptions on other systems, as well as identify root causes. The results are effective at providing decision support for prioritizing technology investment based on risk reduction associated with potential system disruptions. Expanding on research presented at IAC 2018 and based on a collaboration with NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, this paper applies the Systems Op...

2025

Below is an scientific statement addressed to the US government and global intellectual leaders, detailing how NASA's achievements over the past decade have transformed our scientific outlook and why continued support is essential: Scientific Statement on NASA's Transformative Achievements To the United States Government, Global Policy Makers, and the Esteemed Community of World Thinkers: Over the past decade, NASA's research and exploration initiatives have not only redefined our understanding of the cosmos but have also yielded critical technological and biomedical advances that echo across diverse scientific fields. The multifaceted benefits derived from NASA's ventures create a compelling case for continued, robust investment from governmental agencies, private sectors, and intellectual communities worldwide. Pioneering Research in Microgravity Environments NASA's work aboard the International Space Station (ISS) has provided a singular laboratory for experiments that are unachievable on Earth. Research conducted under microgravity conditions-ranging from the crystallization of proteins to innovative tissue chip experiments-has significantly advanced our grasp of fundamental biological processes. These studies offer critical insights into the behavior of biological tissues, the progression of diseases, and potential regenerative therapies. The synthesis of such findings not only enhances our biomedical knowledge but also paves the way for breakthroughs that could revolutionize drug development and therapeutic interventions on Earth.

2025

Traditional human factors design involves the development of human factors requirements based on a desire to accommodate a certain percentage of the intended user population. As the product is developed human factors evaluation involves comparison between the resulting design and the specifications. Sometimes performance metrics are involved that allow leniency in the design requirements given that the human performance result is satisfactory. Clearly such approaches may work but they give rise to uncertainty and negotiation. An alternative approach is to adopt human factors design rules that articulate a range of each design continuum over which there are varying outcome expectations and interactions with other variables, including time. These rules are based on a consensus of human factors specialists, designers, managers and customers. The International Space Station faces exactly this challenge in interior volume control, which is based on anthropometric, performance and subject...

2025

Blue Origin, founded in 2000, represents a paradigm shift in the aerospace industry. With a focus on reusability, safety, and methodical development, Blue Origin's suite of vehicles-including the suborbital New Shepard, the orbital New Glenn, and the lunar Blue Moon lander-demonstrates a coherent strategy for incremental yet revolutionary space exploration. This report examines the engineering design, advanced propulsion systems, reusability strategies, and scalability of these platforms, while also discussing the potential implications for scientific exploration and commercialization in a spatial context.

2025, EPISTEMOLOGY APPLIED TO THE SUBJECT OF UAPs

Epistemology-that also relates to gnoseology-could be defined as the philosophical study of knowledge, exploring its nature, origin, and limits, essentially asking "what do we know, and how do we know it? (created by AI) The two more... more

2025

: It has been just over 40 years since the fulfillment of President John F. Kennedys goal of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth. As we reflect on this technological triumph, we find numerous examples of acquisition best practices and lessons learned, many of which are manifest in our current DoD acquisition management system.From its earliest stages, the U.S. space program pioneered and implemented many innovative ideas and best practicesoften out of necessityand many of those ideas have evolved and are now common tenets of todays defense acquisition practices.

2025

In space, explorers need in situ food production • Space Farming enables colonization of space • Sustainable: minimize logistics of resupply • Supplies: Light, CO 2 , O 2 , Nutrients, Water, Seeds, Plant chamber -Soil ? • Crew Psychological well-being: green Earth • Food Systems: palatable, nutritious and safe source of fresh food (limited shelf-life <3yr) LADA VEGGIE CO 2 H 2 O O 2 Radiation Radiative heat transfer Buoyancy-driven Convection -1 g CO 2 H 2 O O 2 Radiation Radiative heat transfer The absence of gravity induces physical effects that alter the microenvironment surrounding plants and their organs. These effects include: increased boundary layers surrounding plant organs and the absence of convective mixing of atmospheric gases. In addition, altered behavior of liquids and gases is responsible for phase separation and for dominance of capillary forces in the absence of gravitational forces (moisture redistribution)

2025

Bridging the Past and Future: NASA's Synthesis of Traditional and Emerging Aerospace Technologies NASA's journey through space has long been defined by its adherence to time-tested engineering practices and rigorous safety protocols. Today, as the agency faces new challenges and opportunities in space exploration, it is strategically merging these conventional methods with state-of-the-art innovations. This synthesis is not only transforming the way missions are designed and executed, but it also serves as a paradigm for how legacy systems can coexist with cutting-edge technology to blaze new trails in aerospace exploration.

2025

Space exploration has significantly evolved in the 21st century, leading to remarkable advancements in technology, scientific knowledge, and global cooperation. This article examines the key benefits of modern space missions, including technological innovations, economic growth, environmental monitoring, and the potential for interplanetary colonization. It highlights how investments in space research contribute to solving Earth's challenges, such as climate change and resource scarcity, while fostering international collaboration. The paper also discusses the role of private space companies and their impact on the future of space exploration.

2025

Introduction: With the recent expansion of plans for lunar exploration there has been increased interest in support of operations at and near the Moon (i.e., in Cislunar Space), including robotic and crewed missions to the lunar polar regions. Real time navigation and communication will be especially difficult on the heavily shadowed lunar polar regions, given the bad lighting, the frequent lack of line of sight to the Earth, the extreme Geometrical Dilution of Precision (GDOP) for any use of terrestrial GPS and the lack, at least in the near term, of continual overhead satellite coverage. Unlike the Apollo surface Extra-Vehicular Activities (EVAs), future astronauts on polar surface EVAs will need local relays to communicate with the home base, and to perform local navigation, and communication beyond the local line of sight to a central lander.

2025, Technology and Culture

Scientific and Technical Information Branch. NASA-SP-4405 85 158p.; Part of the NASA History series_ Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC 20402. Collected Works -Conference Proceedings (021)... more

2025, International Conference on Environmental Systems

NASA's Z-2 prototype space suit is the highest fidelity pressure garment from both hardware and systems design perspectives since the Space Shuttle Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) was developed in the late 1970's. Upon completion the Z-2 will be tested in the 11 foot human-rated vacuum chamber and the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) at the NASA Johnson Space Center to assess the design and to determine applicability of the configuration to micro-, low-(asteroid), and planetary-(surface) gravity missions. This paper discusses the 'firsts' that the Z-2 represents. For example, the Z-2 sizes to the smallest suit scye bearing plane distance for at least the last 25 years and is being designed with the most intensive use of human models with the suit model. NASA's Advanced Exploration Systems (AES) Advanced Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) project is working toward a Chamber B human-rated thermal, vacuum chamber demonstration of a complete advanced Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU), consisting of a planetary surface walking pressure garment configuration and a portable life support system (PLSS) that utilizes new technology components. The Z-2 prototype pressure garment addresses two major steps in pressure garment maturation that are required to meet this goal: hardware fidelity and systemlevel interfaces. Previous pressure garment prototypes have primarily served as mobility joint system test beds. The prototypes were tested in ambient atmosphere, meaning the suits were tested using breathing air and at a delta pressure above 14.7 psia. Life support was provided by ground support equipment via an umbilical interface or by a portable backpack. The Z-2 will be tested in Johnson Space Center's 11 foot chamber, which is an 11.0 foot by19.0 foot chamber with dual airlock compartments of 9.0 foot and 10.0 foot lengths used for human testing in a vacuum environment, and for space suit development. It features a treadmill, fall protection and the necessary support systems for reduced pressure crew operations. Test of the Z-2 in the 11 foot human-rated vacuum chamber at the Johnson Space Center requires that the suit be compatible with 100% oxygen and a hard vacuum (1x10 -2 Torr). Although most prototype pressure garments are fabricated with materials that are oxygen and vacuum compatible, the compatibility is not documented and certified. The Z-2 design and hardware will be approved for chamber use. Additionally, the Z-2 takes steps toward incorporating EMU system-level interfaces and components. Interfaces such as integrated ventilation lines, integrated audio, purge and relief valves, and volumes reserved for the PLSS feedwater supplies are examples of interfaces that are included. However, the PLSS and display and control interfaces have not been fully defined, thereby requiring additional maturation and design changes for the Z-3 prototype that will be used in the Chamber B human-rated thermal, vacuum advanced EMU demonstration. As a clarification, the Z-2 is not a follow-on to the Z-1. The Z-1 prototype was one of several pressure garment mobility demonstrators that contributed to the decisions NASA made regarding which mobility joints were specified in the Z-2 contract. However, the Z-3 pressure garment will be a further maturation of Z-2. Z-2 is new technology and is still in the development stage. This paper is sometimes limited in the detail it provides because of this.