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Running To Mars

Running to Mars discusses the exercise physiology and environmental challenges of extravehicular activities (EVAs) in space. It describes the different pressures and oxygen levels of Russian and NASA space suits, noting NASA suits allow 60 minutes of operation. Studies on Mir found scheduled EVAs were limited to 5.5 hours with no cases of decompression sickness. The document normalizes metrics like metabolic cost and oxygen consumption to allow comparison between different gravitational environments. Maintaining homeostasis during and after EVAs is important to avoid health effects, and quantifying energy needs for tasks will be key to future space exploration missions involving longer EVAs.

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Alex Buoite Stella
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21 views30 pages

Running To Mars

Running to Mars discusses the exercise physiology and environmental challenges of extravehicular activities (EVAs) in space. It describes the different pressures and oxygen levels of Russian and NASA space suits, noting NASA suits allow 60 minutes of operation. Studies on Mir found scheduled EVAs were limited to 5.5 hours with no cases of decompression sickness. The document normalizes metrics like metabolic cost and oxygen consumption to allow comparison between different gravitational environments. Maintaining homeostasis during and after EVAs is important to avoid health effects, and quantifying energy needs for tasks will be key to future space exploration missions involving longer EVAs.

Uploaded by

Alex Buoite Stella
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Running to Mars:

Exercise & Environmental Physiology


of EVAs suits
Long long time ago…

12.4.1961 20.7.1969
4.10.1957
Long long time ago…
1971: Salyut, the first world space station;
1981: Space Shuttle Columbia;
1990: Space Telescope Hubble;
1997: Sojourner rover on Mars;
1998: ISS
Long long time ago…
Now…
Space Environment

Thirsk et al.,
CMAJ, 2009
Eva Suits
Russian «ORLAN» NASA «EMU»
 40 kPa  30 kPa
(300 mmHg) (225 mmHg)
100% O2 100% O2
 30’  60’ and 40’
denitrogenation preoxyge-
100% O2 nation
73 kPa
(547 mmHg)
MIR EVAs

Scheduled EVAs limited to 5.5 h


No DCS cases
MIR EVAs
MIR EVAs
MIR EVAs
Normalizing and Comparing
 v = speed; g; L = leg length

(Minetti A. E., Nature, 2001)


Normalizing and Comparing
If leg height unknown  L = subject height/1.85

If O2 expressed in W, it was multiplied by k


(W/mLO2)
RQ = 0.87;

 (J/m)

(J/m*kg)
Normalizing and Comparing
Normalizing and Comparing
Running (Fr > 1) is less efficient per unit time, but more
efficient per unit distance than walking or slow running (Fr
< 1) in space suits across g spectrum.

Increase in Specific Resistance with Froude number, as


observed in 1G below the run-walk transition, is not
observed in g < 3/8 G.

Bioenergetics of walking and running in space suits can be


explained through Froude number, surface grade, Earth-
relative gravity level and a derived pressure product factor.
Energetics

Qm, metabolic cost; Ww, external work; Wwc, counterforce work, Wwr, restore body and limb
position and orientation work; Wws, deforming space suit work; Qn, net heat loss; Qs, body
heat storage.
Energetics
Locomotion in reduced gravity, the metabolic cost of
walking at a given velocity declines;

Net oxygen consumption per unit weight carried was nearly


uniform when compared with 1-G controls
The reduction in C is obtained because of the reduce
transported weight; however, it has been observed a
reduction in mechanical efficiency (Wortz, 1968)

75% drop in in gravity produced a 72% drop in rate of energy


consumption during running ((Qm-Qb)/BM), and only 33%
decline during walking.
Energetics
Energetics
Energetics
Effects of EVAs on lung function
Effects of EVAs on lung function

Oxygen consumption remained increased of about 9%


in the 24 h after EVAs.
How to measure?
Walking at very slow speeds (< 3 km/h), metabolic
rate for suited lunar and martian environments were 17
and 28 mLO2/kg*min respectively (Nocross et al.,
2009).

About 10 mLO2/kg*min required for ambulation on a


lunar/martian-like surface (Norcross et al., 2008).

The current NASA standard requires astronauts O 2max


of 32.9 mLO2/kg*min.
How to measure?
GET (Gas Exchange Threshold):

Critical Speed:

S, treadmill speed; D’, finite distance that can be covered running above CS;
t, time to exhaustion; CS, critical speed

10 km Walkback

Field test: (i)ladder climb, (ii) agility cones, (iii) stair


climb, (iv) lateral climb, (v) box lift, (vi) step over task.
How to measure?
How to
measure?
Conclusions:
EVAs represent one of the most threatening and
difficult part of a spaceflight.

Increasing missions’ duration, EVAs will increase in


frequency and duration.

Maintaining homeostasis is fundamental to avoid


effects on health and operative functions.
Conclusions:
If microgravity seems to have positive effects on
energy cost of locomotion, spacesuits can increase the
metabolic requirements.

Quantifying and determining the metabolic need for


different tasks will be fundamental for next space
explorations.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

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