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K-State Today

September 11, 2012

Subjects needed for NASA research

Submitted by Carl Ade

Example of a NASA field test compared to an actual EVA

The physical demand of extravehicular activities, like any job, can vary depending on the task. During the original Apollo missions certain tasks like taking pictures needed little effort where as setting up experiments required more work.

With future planetary missions and high intensity extravehicular activities on the horizon, NASA physicians and planners must understand the complex physical cost of potential tasks and scenarios that might occur during a planetary extravehicular activity. Therefore, the overall goal of this project is to simulate planetary activities, to evaluate performance during these activities, and to use data from regular exercise tests to predict performance during each lunar activity.

Anyone between 18-50 years of age of any fitness level can be a subject. Subjects need to be free of cardiovascular diseases, pulmonary diseases and metabolic diseases, such as high blood pressure, asthma and diabetes, as well as be a nonsmoker.

The exercise testing will be composed of tests performed on a treadmill, arm ergometer and a variety of field tests. There will be 10 tests total spread over a three- to four-week period and each test will only take about an hour. We will work with you to schedule tests whenever they are convenient for you.

If you meet the above criteria and are interested in being a subject or have further questions regarding this research, contact Carl Ade, graduate student, at cade@k-state.edu or 785-532-0717.