Providing Real-Time Ambulatory Physiological Monitoring During Spaceflight Exploration Analog Science Tasks
Abstract
Within the context of sending humans to Mars, it is important to ensure that the physiological tolls on astronauts from living and working in an extreme space environment are well understood. Currently, there is little literature on the implementation of remote, live physiological monitoring in extreme environment—a capability that will be required during a manned mission to Mars. There is also a gap in the knowledge of different physiological responses to extravehicular activity (EVA) tasks indicated in exploration literature and an indicated desire for research on the physiological inputs and outputs of EVA. This thesis addresses both gaps by successfully integrating remote, ambulatory physiological monitoring into the BASALT Mars Analog using only commercially available hardware and software. The data collected during the physiological monitoring was then analyzed to determine whether different EVA-like tasks elicit different physiological responses. It was found that while different tasks did elicit different responses, these responses were not necessarily predictable or consistent across different study participants. The different locations in which the data was collected also had some effect on physiological response in some parameters, and not in others. This work is a benchmark upon which future studies can build in order to better determine the physiological demands of EVA. The method of live physiological monitoring developed in this thesis can also be implemented by field scientists for health and safety measures in remote environments on Earth, as it requires only moderate effort to implement if a stable wireless network is established in the field.
Degree
M.S.I.E.
Advisors
Caldwell, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Industrial engineering
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