NEUROVESTIBULAR EFFECTS OF SPACEFLIGHT – CONSIDERATIONS FOR HUMAN SAFETY AND PERFORMANCE

摘要

From orbital spaceflight we know that astronauts mayrnsuffer from sensori-motor problems during the first daysrnin weightlessness, and again upon return to Earth.rnSymptoms include spatial disorientation, motionrnillusions, postural imbalance, and motion sickness.rnSymptoms are typically triggered by head movements,rnindicating a central role of the vestibular system. TNOrnresearch has shown that the same symptoms can bernelicited by exposing subjects to hyper-gravity in arnhuman centrifuge. This suggests that not weightlessnessrnitself, but the change in G-load causes vestibularrnadaptation problems. Suborbital spaceflight will exposernparticipants to a sequence of highly variable G-levels.rnHence it can be anticipated that this will affectrnvestibular functioning, with potential consequences forrnride comfort (passengers) and flight safety (crew). Werntherefore propose to invest in research on thernphysiological responses to G-load profiles specific forrnsuborbital flights with the purpose to establish comfortrnand safety guidelines for the commercial spaceflightrnsector.