Objectives
This experiment explored the long-term effects of microgravity on crewmembers'
physical and mental coordination in space. Before the flight, the test subjects
were trained to perform certain computer tasks. During the flight, the subjects
were to perform the same tasks, and their work quality and skill retention would
be measured and compared to data taken before the flight. Researchers expected
that the subjects would take longer to perform tasks in space, and would have
more errors during performance of these tasks. The expriment also compared training
performance and subjects' physical and mental states with actual inflight performance
and states. Results of this research would be used to develop countermeasures
for increasing crewmember efficiency on future space missions.
Shuttle-Mir Missions Approach
The experiment collected data before, during and after the mission. Preflight data collection was scheduled during training exercises on the "Podvieska" computer simulator at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Russia. Gamma-1 medical monitoring sensors were applied to the body to detect heart rate, cranial blood flow and blood pressure. The data collection sessions established a baseline for individual levels of work performance and skill retention.
The same work tasks were to be performed during flight while each subject was positioned at the Mir workstation. Heart rate, cranial blood flow and blood pressure were to be measured using the same medical equipment as preflight. At the completion of each data collection session, the subject was to complete a self-report describing his skill retention and work performance. All data was to be transferred from the Mir to the Shuttle (STS-71) for return to Earth.
After flight, two additional simulator sessions were to be performed using the same equipment as the preflight data collection sessions. The investigators debriefed two subjects in a verbal question-and-answer session followed by the subjects' completion of a questionaire. This provided a self-evaluation of the difficulty and quality of task performance.
Results
Data was collected preflight in Russia from both subjects but the results were not reported to the US investigator. Not all data collection sessions were performed as scheduled. Partial inflight data was collected for one subject, but the data was incomplete for those sessions. Postflight data was not collected for either subject.
Given the incompleteness of the data collected and the anomalies
with ground and flight hardware and the preflight and inflight procedures used,
researchers were unable to perform data analysis. No valid conclusions or findings
were possible.
Publications Principal Investigators
V. P. Salnitskiy, Ph.D.
Mir-18
The experiment used a ground-based Russian spacecraft control simulator and
a Mir-based workstation system to simulate re-docking of a Soyuz module to the
Mir station. Both the simulator and workstation contained a video monitor, simulation
control joysticks and medical monitoring equipment called "Gamma-1." The two
systems were telemetrically
connected in a closed loop system, with the ground-based unit transmitting simulated
vehicle states to the test subject at the Mir workstation. The workstation,
in turn, transmitted test subject actions and physiological information to the
ground-based simulator. Audio and video systems uploaded and displayed the ground-based
simulator version of the orbital station Mir to the two test subjects. Following
the simulation, crewmembers provided a self-report on his/her functional state
and performance.
The PILOT experiment was not performed successfully in flight due to hardware and logistical problems. Experiment hardware used during ground-based training was considerably different from that used in flight and the control strategies for using the flight hardware differed from those of the ground hardware. Also, the procedures used in conducting the experiment preflight differed from inflight procedures.
None available at this time.
Deborah L. Harm, Ph.D.
NASA/Johnson Space Center
Institute of Biomedical Problems
 |
Curator:
Julie Oliveaux
Responsible NASA Official: John Uri |
Page last updated: 07/16/1999
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