PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR(S ): 



EXPERIMENT TITLE/NUMBER : 



PROGRAM/MISSION : Mercury 6, MA-6 



CLASSIFICATION : Human 



DISCIPLINE(S) : Environmental health 



OBJECTIVES : To evaluate the performance of a man-spacecraft system in a 

 three-pass orbital mission, to evaluate the effects of space flight on the 

 astronaut, and to obtain the astronaut's evaluation of the operational 

 suitability of the spacecraft and supporting systems for manned space flight. 



PROTOCOL : Pre- and postflight physical examinations were performed including 

 a balance test, caloric irrigation to find the threshold temperature for 

 nystagmus, and a psychiatric interview. Routine blood and urine tests were 

 made. Gastrointestinal function was measured by xylose absorption. 



EQUIPMENT : Linear potentiometer with carbon-impregnated rubber (indirect 

 respiration measurement), rectal thermistor (body temperature), EKG with low 

 impedance electrodes (heart rate), blood pressure measuring system, inflight 

 urine collection devices. 



RESULTS : No gastrointestinal, vestibular, or disorientation symptoms were 

 noted during weightlessness. There were no adverse effects from isolation or 

 confinement. No significant changes from the pilots pref light condition were 

 revealed. A mild dehydration was observed. 



CONCLUSIONS : The physiological responses observed were all consistent with 

 intact systems and normal body functions. This exposure to weightlessness was 

 of sufficient duration to permit physiological responses to reach a relatively 

 steady state. Acceleration-weightlessness transition periods did not produce 

 any recognized physiological deterioration. The environmental control system 

 effectively supported the pilot throughout the mission. 



PUBLICATIONS : 129, 304, 332, 351, 401 



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