Quantitative analysis of motion control in long term μ-gravity

Abstract

In the frame of the 179-days EUROMIR '95 space mission, two in-flight experiments have foreseen quantitative thres-dimensional human movement analysis in μgravity. For this aim, a space qualified opto-electronic motion analyser based on passive markers has been installed onboard the Russian Space Station MIR and 8 in flight sessions have been performed. Technology and method for the collection of kinematics data are described, evaluating the accuracy in three-dimensional marker localisation. Results confirm the suitability of opto-electronic technology for quantitative human motion analysis on orbital modules and raise a set of “lessons learned”, leading to the improvement of motion analyser performance with a contemporary swiftness of the on-board operations. Among the experimental program of T4, results of three voluntary posture perturbation protocols are described. The analysis suggests that a short term reinterpretation of proprioceptive information and re-calibration of sensorimotor mechanisms seem to end within the first weeks of flight, while a continues long term adaptation process allows the refinement of motor performance, in the frame of never abandoned terrestrial strategies.