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The microgravity environment presents unique challenges to mass measurement. Early attempts to develop a human mass measurement device for space application include: 1) a spring oscillator design, developed by astronaut Dr. William Thornton, used in Spacelab, and 2) a linear acceleration device, developed by the former Soviet Union, used in the Mir space station. Accurate measurement of human body mass in microgravity is important for both research and crew health care monitoring. To accommodate this requirement, the Human Research Facility (HRF) has developed an improved acceleration-based Space Linear Acceleration Mass Measurement Device (SLAMMD) for the International Space Station (ISS).

The Human Research Facility (HRF) was developed with the sole, singular purpose of advancing the study of the effects of microgravity on biological systems. The single, largest component of this effort is the Human Research Facility's Ultrasound System. The HRF Ultrasound System, once on orbit, will be a fully functional, state of the art, ultrasound machine capable of providing all modes and modalities currently available in terrestrial hospitals and research centers. The HRF Ultrasound System will be able to transfer data from the International Space Station (ISS) to researchers on the ground in near real-time, comply with diagnostic commands from Mission Control at Johnson Space Center (JSC) and accept software upgrades with minimal crew interface.

The Human Research Facility (HRF) dedicates itself to researching the effects of microgravity on human physiology. The largest HRF payload is a fully functional state-of-the-art ultrasound system modified for space flight. This ultrasound system interfaces with remote software to provide video and data communication between the HRF Ultrasound and the HRF Telescience Support Center (TSC) at Johnson Space Center (JSC). This software architecture allows NASA scientists and engineers to transfer images, perform diagnostics, and support upgrades. These functions provide the means to interpret life science experiments performed in a microgravity environment.

Scheduled for an initial launch in the first quarter of the year 2000, the Human Research Facility (HRF) will provide the first major pieces of biomedical research hardware for Life Sciences investigations on the International Space Station (ISS). The HRF will support scientific studies in the fields of biochemistry and metabolism, cardiopulmonary physiology, environmental sciences, human factors, musculoskeletal physiology, neurosciences, and psychology and behavior. To date, twenty seven experiments have been selected for further definition. HRF hardware will include a gas analyzing mass spectrometer, a body mass measurement device, an ultrasound machine, a computer workstation/data storage device, a strength measurement device, a range of motion suit, and a number of stowed hardware items.

The Human Research Facility (HRF) Workstation is a key computational element in the HRF data system architecture. The HRF Workstation consists of a stowed display, keyboard, archive media, cables, and an active four Panel Unit (PU) drawer with electrical, mechanical, thermal, and data interfaces to the EXpedite the PRocessing of Experiments to Space Station (EXPRESS) rack and the International Space Station (ISS). The four panel unit drawer, called the Workstation Computer Drawer, is the “heart” of the system and contains the processors, RAM, hard drives, interface boards, etc. The HRF Workstation will provide data collection, archive, downlink, display, video processing, graphics accelerator, user interface, and EXPRESS rack interfaces for experiment operation.

Future long-term space missions, such as a manned mission to Mars, will require regenerative life support systems which will enable crews more self-sufficiency and less dependence on resupply. Toward this effort, a series of tests called the Lunar-Mars Life Support Test Project have been conducted as part of the National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA's) advanced life support technology development program. The last test in this series was the Phase III test which was conducted September 19 - December 19, 1997 in the Life Support Systems Integration Facility at the Johnson Space Center. The overall objective of the Phase III test was to conduct a 90-day regenerative life support system test with four human test subjects demonstrating an integrated biological and physicochemical life support system to produce potable water, maintain a breathable atmosphere, and maintain a shirt sleeve environment.