Space shuttle crewmembers have been equipped with a launch-entry crew escape system (LES) since the Challenger accident in 1986. Some crewmembers, wearing the new pressure suit, have reported breathing difficulties and increased effort to achieve the desired range of motion. This study was conducted to quantify the reported increased physical workloads and breathing difficulty associated with wearing the LES. Both veteran astronauts and centrifuge panel members were exposed to various +Gx profiles (including simulated shuttle launch) on the USAF School of Aerospace Medicine (USAFSAM) human-use centrifuge. Physiologic measurement included maximum heart rate as an indication of workload and pulmonary function tests immediately after each run as a correlate of perceived difficulty in breathing.


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    Title :

    Heart Rate and Pulmonary Function While Wearing the Launch-Entry Crew Escape Suite (LES) during +Gx Acceleration and Simulated Shuttle Launch


    Contributors:
    R. W. Krutz (author) / J. Bagian (author) / R. R. Burton (author) / L. J. Meeker (author)

    Publication date :

    1990


    Size :

    7 pages


    Type of media :

    Report


    Type of material :

    No indication


    Language :

    English







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