Report (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. M.S. 1992. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 66-68). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 1972. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 301-306).

Report (M.S.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. M.S. 1991. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 117-125). Also available via the Internet.

Master of Science

Long-duration spaceflight poses many challenging technical and non-technical problems that must be addressed. Past experience with long space missions has shown that the medical and psychological issues in the human factors realm that may arise are serious enough to require high-level consideration in the overall systems development process. <p> An essential aspect of the total systems development process for long-duration space missions entails the conception of a variety of countermeasures to combat the degradative effects of microgravity, isolation and confinement. These effects should be considered within a larger mission/systems framework. Additional factors within a broad systems perspective include the notion that context is an important attribute of the overall system state and may directly affect the astronauts' psychological health and the physical ability to perform required tasks. <p> A review of the literature in the psychosocial and medical realms is presented as these concerns impact the human factor within the macro-system goal of successful long-duration spaceflight mission completion. / Master of Science

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003. / Accompany CD-ROM contains complete dissertation in Microsoft Word documents. Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2003. / Accompany CD-ROM contains complete dissertation in Microsoft Word documents. Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Manned Spacecraft Programs are the largest research and development tasks ever undertaken by the government or by private industry in the United States. Under the direction of the National Aeronautic and Space Administration (NASA) these programs have advanced from Project Mercury in the early 1960's through Gemini, Apollo, including Moon Landing, and Skylab Programs to the present day Space Shuttle Program. With the development of each new program, there comes a growing awareness of the ever increasing complexity of tasks relating to integrated preflight test and checkout. Data rates have grown from one (1) pulse amplitude modulated/frequency modulated (PAM/FM) link with just over a hundred (100) measurements to multiple pulse code modulated (PCM) links with many thousands of measurements and bit rates up to fifty (50) megabits per second (MBPS). A unique requirement of Manned Spacecraft Programs in the "Man Rating" concept. Man rating requires that every failure and test anomaly be analyzed, understood and/or corrected prior to flight. This further complicates an already complex test and checkout program. Exploitation of the potentials of automation was and is the only recourse for present day and future programs. Such automation should be as automatic as possible but must have a man-in-the-loop capability to assure that the test engineer has positive control at all times. This paper analyzes the progress in automation in round test and checkout from Project Mercury days with a simplified prototype technique for Space Shuttle.

Crew motions can affect the angular orientation of a spacecraft. Such motions are of a somewhat random nature and must be treated stochastically. The equations of motion for the spacecraft are solved to obtain a simple relationship between individual crew motions and the angular change in spacecraft orientation. For the majority of manned spacecraft, the angular changes about the three principal axes of inertia can be considered independent. The additive effect of many motions, considered random in frequency and magnitude, is found by treating the motion as a form of random walk. Solutions are obtained for the time required to reach predetermined maximum allowable angular deviation limits. If reaction control jets are used for stabilization, this time determines the frequency of firing and the fuel consumption rate. For relatively heavy spacecraft, such as those designed to carry three or more crew members, the complete solution to the diffusion equation gives the time between control jet firing; this solution has a particularly simple form. For smaller spacecraft, where individual motions may cause a change in orientation which is several percent of the maximum allowable, additional solutions have been obtained using Markov chain matrix analysis; numerical values for the matrix equations can be obtained from a digital computer. / Ph. D.

Space exploration is a uniquely human activity. As humans continue to push the limits of exploring the unknown, they have sought knowledge supporting the sustenance of life in outer space. New technologies, advancements in medicine, and rethinking what it means to be a “community” will need to emerge to support life among the stars. Crews traveling beyond the Moon will rely on the development of new technologies to support the technological aspects of their missions as well as their quality of life while away from Earth. Likewise, through advancements in medicine, scientists will need to address remaining questions regarding the effects of long-duration spaceflight on the human body and crew performance. Space explorers must learn to utilize these new technologies and medical advancements while learning to adapt to their new environment in space and as a space community. It is important that researchers address these issues so that human survival beyond Earth is not only achievable but so that life among the stars is worth living and sustaining. This thesis addressed these issues in an attempt to extend the trajectory of space exploration to new horizons.