Cosmonauts’ tolerance of the chest-back G-loads during ballistic and automatically controlled descents of space vehicles

Abstract

Analysis of cosmonauts' +Gx tolerance on the stage of ballistic or automatically controlled Soyuz descent after missions to the International space station of varying duration was performed. As compared with automatically controlled descents, tolerance of descent re-entry +G(x) following short (8-14 d) missions was marked by reliably more frequent instances of visual disorders, difficult breathing, sensation of a lump in the throat and vestibulovegetative disorders (p < 0.05). The ballistic but not controlled re-entry after long-term mission provoked visual disorders, difficulties with breathing and speech, and vestibulovegetative disorders more often (p < 0.05). A considerable HR rise due to the ballistic rather than control descent was associated with re-entry and the main parachute re-hooking for symmetrical suspension; respiration rate was the highest during parachuting. By and large, these factual data infer that the ballistic descent after various periods in spaceflight microgravity, especially after extended space missions (164-169 d), led to a dramatic loss in the body functional reserves.