The ergonomic aspects of space vehicle manual motion control during re-entry
Barer, A.S.
Aviakosmicheskaia i Ekologicheskaia Meditsina 40(2): 3-8
2006
ISSN/ISBN: 0233-528X PMID: 16999065 Document Number: 604109
In 1960s, the Russian space program spared no resources for extensive theoretical and empiric studies of manual control by vehicles during re-entry at the second and first space speeds by cosmonauts experiencing g-loads of up to 18 g. About 6,000 static and 400 centrifuge experiments were performed, and if g-loads caused loss of vision the cosmonaut remained operational getting audible indication. Ergonomic characteristics of the control organs and indicators were high enough to guarantee accuracy despite the g-loads comparable with values under static conditions. The store of knowledge acquired in those studies does not lose significance for the present-day piloted space programs.