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Predicted physiological stresses on a Natter pilot during a mission
| Stress | Effect on body function | Impaired pilot function |
|---|---|---|
| A. Stresses of take off | ||
| Noise | Overloads hearing function, acute earache | Impairs ability to communicate |
| Vibration | Shakes head and eyes | Impairs ability to read instruments |
| Fumes, dust and debris | Induces tearing of eyes Irritates lungs | Impairs reading of instruments Impairs breathing |
| g force – traverse g | Increases weight of limbs and torso | Impairs ability to operate controls |
| B. Stresses of ascent | ||
| Reduced air pressure | Expands gas in air-filled spaces causing acute pain in bowel – altitude meteorism and in middle ear – barotitis media | Impairs concentration and ability to continue mission |
| Joint pain; chest pain – decompression sickness | Unlikely to occur on such a short flight | |
| Reduced oxygen pressure | Decrease in brain oxygen – confusion; loss of consciousness – hypoxia | Impairs concentration and ability to continue mission |
| g force – negative g | Blood distends head blood vessels; impairs head circulation – “red out”; confusion | Impairs ability to read instruments and ability to continue mission |
| C. Stresses of high-altitude emergency escape | ||
| Wind blast | Airstream ram pressure on face tears off oxygen mask – hypoxia Lung and facial trauma | Impairs vision and ability to land safely |
| Cold air | Loss of body heat with frostbite – hypothermia; confusion | Impairs ability to use hands and to land safely |
| D. Stress of pull-out from drive | ||
| g force – positive g | Blood moves toward lower body; brain hypoxia – “grey out”; confusion | Impairs vision and ability to continue the mission |
How did the Natter project advance progress towards human spaceflight?
| 1. | It established the safest posture for the crew of a vertical take-off (VTO) rocket. |
|---|---|
| 2. | It established that a crew could not reliably control a VTO rocket manually and that autopilot control of the rocket was essential during powered flight. |
| 3. | It developed a hybrid liquid and solid propulsion system for a crewed VTO rocket. |
| 4. | It developed the first precisely timed countdown and flight mission for a crewed VTO rocket. |
| 5. | It resulted in the development of the world’s first light weight flexible pressure suit including flexible glove fingers. |
Lessons learned from the world’s first human vertical rocket flight_
| 1. | Launch and boost phase stresses on a VTO rocket pilot are multiple, rapid in onset and potentially overwhelming. |
|---|---|
| 2. | A pilot cannot be relied upon to manually control a rocket’s flight path during the powered ascent. |
| 3. | Flight control by autopilot is essential for reliable and precise powered flight of the rocket. |
| 4. | The pilot should be provided with the facility to monitor the powered flight path and autopilot function and to be able to take over control in the case of autopilot failure. |