Spacesuit Center of Gravity Assessments for Partial Gravity EVA Simulation in an Underwater Environment

• Published in: Human factors Vol. 65; no. 6; pp. 1029 - 1045
• Main Authors: Vu, Linh Q., Shaw, James H., Kim, K. Han, Benson, Elizabeth, Rajulu, Sudhakar L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.09.2023; Human Factors and Ergonomics Society
• Subjects: Astronauts; Buoyancy; Center of gravity; Extravehicular activity; Hardware; Microgravity; Simulation; Space suits; Training; Underwater; Weight; gait and posture; extreme environments; balance; computational modeling; physical ergonomics
• ISSN: 0018-7208; 1547-8181; 1547-8181
• DOI: 10.1177/00187208211070635

Objective The objective is to analytically determine the expected CG and build hardware to measure and verify the suited subject’s CG for lunar extravehicular activity (EVA) training in an underwater environment. Background For lunar EVAs, it is necessary for astronauts to train with a spacesuit in a simulated partial gravity environment. NASA’s Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory (NBL) can provide these conditions by producing negative buoyancy for a submerged suited subject. However, it is critical that the center of gravity (CG) for the human-spacesuit system to be accurate for conditions expected during planetary EVAs. Methods An underwater force-transducer system and individualized human-spacesuit model was created to provide real-time measurement of CG, including recommendations for weight placement locations and quantity of weight needed on the spacesuit to achieve a realistic lunar spacesuit CG. This method was tested with four suited subjects. Results Across tested weighout configurations, it was observed that an aft and high CG location will have large postural differences when compared to low and fore CG locations, highlighting the importance of having a proper CG. The system had an accuracy of ±5lbs of the total lunar weight and within ± 15 cm for fore-aft and left-right CG directions of the model predictions. Conclusion The developed method offers analytical verification of the suited subject’s CG and improves simulation quality of lunar EVAs. Future suit design can also benefit by recommending hardware changes to create ideal CG locations that improve balance and mobility. Application The developed methodology can be used to verify a proper CG location in future planetary EVA simulations such as different reduced gravity training analogs (e.g. active cable offloading systems).