| Popis: |
Publisher Summary Space is inherently dangerous to human beings. The use of appropriate countermeasures, in particular those associated with exercise, minimizes these adaptations and counters some of the hazardous aspects of space flight, thus enabling the astronaut to retain a considerable degree of Earth based capability. The retention of such ability (physical, cognitive, and emotional) not only offers a distinct advantage in space when highly intensive physical and psychological stresses are imposed but also proves of great benefit when acceleration forces are reimposed on the body, such as during reentry or on a planetary surface. At these times, it is best to be strong, fit, and emotionally capable, to enable the arduous tasks to be accomplished and to react successfully to emergency circumstances. The human capability of offsetting most of the negative effects and compensate for many others has improved to the point at which interplanetary travel and exploration are within reach. As humans progress toward this goal, the events of previous space mishaps, narrow escapes, and crises should be reevaluated to improve crew survival in the future. Crew survival should incorporate advanced technologies where feasible, and the means should be simple, reliable, and attainable to address catastrophic failure modes. Worst case failures should be considered when establishing crew survival design requirements, and preparatory design for crew survival must be deemed more effective than postproduction modification of a spacecraft. The dangers are great, and there is some way to go before humans can be completely confident of their abilities. The rewards of success and the achievements derived and continue to be derived from human space flight are such that the efforts of the past and those of today and the future are justified. |
