EuroMoonMars-Poland Analog Astronaut Campaigns of 2021

<p>We shall describe a series of periods of Habitat Isolations that took place at The Analog Astronaut Training Centre near Krakow Poland during 2021. A number of organisations with participating members from various European Universities, were all working as part of the EuroMoonMars Project. The aim of these campaigns is to build a foundation for training future Analog Astronauts whilst developing their scientific skills and knowledge. This will support current research in developing a habitat on the surface of the Moon or Mars.</p> <p>EMMPOL 3, 4 & 5 (22 April-15 May 2021): These campaigns were crews of six Analog Astronauts that spent seven days in isolation; they were supported by a local team that assisted in the case that any problem arises and run a daily astronomical weather forecast. During the isolation period the Astronauts conducted a variety of scientific experiments and tested various technological instruments. These projects include the development of communication techniques, the investigation into laboratory equipment and advancement in the understanding of human and machine interaction. The Astronauts carried out a variety of daily tasks and activities such as physical health training, meal preparation and individual downtime that will assist in the well-being of each participant.</p> <p>EMMPOL 6 & 7 (August 2021): These campaigns will hope to be in advancement to the previous missions that will investigate more areas of scientific research. These missions will take place in August along with a Rocket Workshop headed by the AATC Team.</p> <p> </p> <p>We thank the Analog Astronaut Training Centre, and EuroMoonMars team colleagues providing support.</p>

Remote research in lunar and martian analog international missions to rise knowledge about life in isolation

<p>Analog simulations of space missions transform from educational activities to advanced interdisciplinary research related with future Moon and Mars exploration. Here we present results from Analog Simulations Campaign 2020 at Analog Astronaut Training Center in Poland. We organised 10 analog missions starting with six missions BRIGHT engaging 9 students, mission ETERNITY, DESTINY, and two EMMPOL missions engaging 18 people, what gives 27 analog astronauts in total for the whole campaign. Analog astronauts were supported by the Mission Control Center. Several experts from various disciplines - professional researchers, participated remotely in this project. Analog astronaut samples of serum, urine, stool and saliva were transported and analysed in professional laboratories of Collegium Medicum at Jagiellonian University in Kraków, Poland. </p><p>Organised analog simulations had a common scientific and operational objectives. The main aim was to study life in isolation to support the general public in pandemic times. Missions were organised in specially equipped with environmental sensors isolated AATC habitat in the South of Poland. We collected multiple physiological and psychological data related with stress, motivation and efficiency of analog astronauts during their missions. We observed changes in physical activity, appetite, circadian rhythms, mood, and motivation, as well as interesting results from physiological samples. We defined the most critical aspects of life in isolation and tested putative solutions for improvement of the comfort of such type of existence. Based on our 4 month studies, we characterised a list of common problems strictly related with life in isolation, which were observed in tested groups. At the end, we propose solutions to improve life and well-being in restricted spaces.</p>

Postural control in children receiving intervention using the Astronaut Training Protocol

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION: The vestibular system plays an important role in postural control and an upright posture when seated at a table. Some children have difficulty with their in-seat posture resulting in increased in-seat movement. This research investigated the effect of the Astronaut Training Protocol on a child's vestibular processing and postural control, and by extension their in-seat behaviour METHOD: A case study research design with multiple data sources was used with four participants identified presenting with dysfunction in in-seat posture and in-seat movement. Data were collected over three phases: Pre-Astronaut Training (Baseline), Post-Astronaut Training (Intervention) and Withdrawal. The Pre-Astronaut Training and Withdrawal phases consisted of four sessions of sensory-based occupational therapy while the intervention phase included eight Astronaut Training sessions in addition to regular sensory-based occupational therapy. Four assessments were used to determine vestibular and postural control changes at each phase: Movement ABC one-leg balance, Post-rotary Nystagmus (PRN) test, in-seat posture assessment (designed for the purpose of this study), and in-seat movement through the collection of data using an accelerometer RESULTS: Participants' scores differed, depending on their initial ability to tolerate rotary input. This research showed that change in vestibular function and postural control differed for participants who could tolerate rotary input and those who were over-reactive to rotary input at the start of the study. Generally, the participants who were over-reactive to rotary input showed greater improvement Post-Astronaut Training with continued smaller improvements into the Withdrawal phase. Participants who could tolerate rotary input showed improvement in in-seat posture and in-seat movement during the Post-Astronaut training phase and deteriorated during the Withdrawal phase CONCLUSION: The Astronaut Training Protocol can improve vestibular function and postural control in children with poor in-seat posture and in-seat movement, although the frequency and intensity of the programme still need to be confirmed Keywords: vestibular processing, in-seat movement, in-seat posture, reaction to vestibular input, sensory-based occupational therapy, Astronaut Training Protocol.

The Politics of Heroes’ Body: Ethnographying the Training of Foreign Astronauts in Russia

If the literature in the history of the Soviet space program is extremely prolific since the 1960s, including regarding cosmonaut embodiment, a lack remains regarding the contemporary reality of human spaceflight in Russia. As this article discusses, based on interviews and a long-term ethnography of the Russian training of astronauts from Western Europe, North America, and Japan, becoming an astronaut is to develop a legitimate body fitting dominant cultural and gendered models. Three mechanisms serve the manufacture of “heroes” and masculine bodies through the astronaut training: the historical narrative of human spaceflight; the values and virility attributes embed as part of the training; and the instruments used in the daily activity of astronauts (such as spacesuits). This manufacture of a legitimate body, characterized by masculinity and discipline inherited from the past, is a heuristic field for corporality and studies of global politics as it underlines how an interweaving of gender, Soviet heritage, and cultural fantasies frames the bodies of a professional elite.

Passive force control of multimodal astronaut training robot

For the purpose of solving the problem of astronaut training in weightlessness environment, this article proposes a multimodal astronaut training robot to enable astronauts to perform running, bench press and deep squat training in the weightless environment, so as to help them mitigate the adverse effects brought by the space adaptation syndrome. Taking the modularized wire driving unit as the research object, the dynamic model of the passive force servo system was established; and the passive force control strategy was designed. The experimental results show that the system is of good stability, high steady-state accuracy, and excellent dynamic quality after correction. When the given signal frequency is 10 Hz, the system phase lag is about 9°, and the loading error is about 5%. The passive force servo control strategy can effectively reduce the surplus force. When the speed disturbance frequency of carrying unit is within 3 Hz, the elimination rate of the surplus force can reach 90%.

Astronaut Training using Virtual Reality in a Neutrally Buoyant Environment

<div><p>Astronauts undergo significant training in preparation for operating in space. In the past governments have been driving space exploration through ventures such as the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), however more recently new private companies have formed such as SpaceX who are designing commercially viable and reusable spacecraft. As such, the economics of space travel are more important than ever, and there is a logical need to research affordable and effective training procedures for astronauts.</p><p>Virtual Reality (VR) has been shown to be an effective technique for training people to perform high skilled physical tasks such as medical surgery. Research into VR as a platform for training astronauts has shown encouraging results with the implementation of hand tracking data gloves allowing the trainee to interact with the virtual environment. Further, there is evidence that VR can aid in the treatment of phobias with exposure therapy by better preparing the patient for real life exposure. Tactile feedback was found to enhance the treatment. Hence training with VR may help prepare an astronaut for the experience of operating in space through exposure to realistic simulations.</p><p>This paper proposes using existing underwater systems with VR to create a low cost extra vehicular activity (EVA) astronaut training simulation. Incorporation of tactile feedback and methods to track the body, hands and finger flexure, enabling user interaction with the virtual environment was explored. This allows for the creation of a varied neutrally buoyant training environment with a smaller physical space requirement compared to existing methods.</p></div>