Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate new methods for predicting injury from expected spaceflight dynamic loads by leveraging a broader range of available information in injury biomechanics. Although all spacecraft designs were considered, the primary focus was the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Orion capsule, as the authors have the most knowledge and experience related to this design. The team defined a list of critical injuries and selected the THOR anthropomorphic test device as the basis for new standards and requirements. In addition, the team down-selected the list of available injury metrics to the following: head injury criteria 15, kinematic brain rotational injury criteria, neck axial tension and compression force, maximum chest deflection, lateral shoulder force and displacement, acetabular lateral force, thoracic spine axial compression force, ankle moments, and average distal forearm speed limits. The team felt that these metrics capture all of the injuries that might be expected by a seated crewmember during vehicle aborts and landings. Using previously determined injury risk levels for nominal and off-nominal landings, appropriate injury assessment reference values (IARVs) were defined for each metric. Musculoskeletal deconditioning due to exposure to reduced gravity over time can affect injury risk during landing; therefore a deconditioning factor was applied to all IARVs. Although there are appropriate injury data for each anatomical region of interest, additional research is needed for several metrics to improve the confidence score.
Highlights
The objective of this work was to: (1) identify a list of critical spaceflight injuries from dynamic loading that need to be protected against to enable mission success, (2) identify an anthropomorphic test device (ATD) to be used to predict the threshold at which human injuries will occur, and (3) develop a table of ATD thresholds known as injury assessment reference values (IARVs) for each critical injury
The authors seek to illuminate a proposed pathway to couple existing knowledge with future, directed research aimed at improving upon current metrics and achieving a better understanding of the inherent and unique challenges related to developing accurate and robust injury prediction, prevention, and mitigation tools for the spaceflight domain
As discussed in this paper, there are numerous reasons why it is not appropriate to directly apply IARVs derived from other industries – such as the automotive field – to the spaceflight domain
Summary
PURPOSE The objective of this work was to: (1) identify a list of critical spaceflight injuries from dynamic loading that need to be protected against to enable mission success, (2) identify an anthropomorphic test device (ATD) to be used to predict the threshold at which human injuries will occur, and (3) develop a table of ATD thresholds known as injury assessment reference values (IARVs) for each critical injury. Center; KSC, Kennedy Space Center; LEO, low earth orbit; LM, Lockheed Martin; LOC, loss of consciousness; MPCV, multi-purpose crew vehicle; mTBI, mild traumatic brain injury; NASA, National Aeronautics and Space Administration; NBDL, Naval Biodynamics Laboratory; NESC, NASA Engineering and Safety Center; NHTSA, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; OP, occupant protection; PMHS, post-mortem human surrogates; SID, side-impact dummy; SLS, space launch system; SRB, solid rocket boosters; TBI, traumatic brain injury; TBD, to be determined; THOR, test device for human occupant restraint modification kit; USAARL, United States Army Aeromedical Research Laboratory; USSR, United Soviet Socialist Republic; WSTF, White Sands Test Facility. SPACEFLIGHT DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS Vehicle designs Reaching space requires an extreme amount of kinetic energy, and effective systems to dissipate this energy on the return to Earth. While most of this energy is controlled, dissipated, or absorbed by the vehicle, some amount of kinetic energy may be transmitted to the occupants aboard the spacecraft. Vehicle design is an important consideration for managing this energy, during launch aborts and landing
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