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This paper summarizes the activities of the University of Maryland Space Systems Laboratory in performing a design study for a minimum functionality lunar habitat element for NASA's Exploration Systems Mission Directorate. By creating and deploying a survey to personnel experienced in Earth analogues, primarily shipboard and Antarctic habitats, a list of critical habitat functions was established, along with their relative importance and their impact on systems design/implementation. Based on a review of relevant past literature and the survey results, four habitat concepts were developed, focused on interior space layout and preliminary systems sizing. Those concepts were then evaluated for habitability through virtual reality (VR) techniques and merged into a single design. Trade studies were conducted on habitat systems, and the final design was synthesized based on all of the results.

The MX-2 neutral buoyancy space suit analogue has been designed and developed at the University of Maryland to facilitate analysis of space suit components and assessment of the benefits of advanced space suit technologies, The MX-2 replicates the salient features of microgravity pressure suits, including the induced joint torques, visual, auditory and thermal environments, and microgravity through the use of neutral buoyancy simulation. In this paper, design upgrades and recent operations of the suit are outlined, including many experiments and tests of advanced space suit technologies, This paper focuses on the work done using the MX-2 to implement and investigate various advanced controls and displays within the suit, to enhance crewmember situational awareness and effectiveness, and enable human-robotic interaction.

The University of Maryland Space Systems Laboratory is developing the capability to simulate partial gravity levels for human operational activities through the use of ballast on body segments in the underwater environment. This capability will be important as NASA prepares to return to the Moon by the end of the next decade. The paper discusses various forms of partial gravity simulation used in the past, and derives a targeted set of applications for ballasted underwater simulations. Primary application of this technique is for static or quasistatic activities, such as collecting basic anthropometric data on reach envelopes or postural control, as well as accumulating an experience base on partial gravity habitat and vehicle design and operations.

In the present study, 8 experienced neutral buoyancy test divers were instructed to maintain quiet relaxed posture while ‘standing’ in instrumented space shuttle middeck (IVA) type foot restraints in the Space Systems Laboratory (SSL) Neutral Buoyancy Research Facility (NB) and onboard the NASA KC-135 reduced gravity aircraft (PF). Foot restraint reaction loads and subject joint angles were recorded during blind and sighted conditions. Visual cues played a significant role in subject anxiety onboard the KC; however, while subject joint angles and reaction loads differed between NB and PF conditions, no differences were found between sighted and blind conditions in either simulation environment for reaction loads or joint angles. This very surprising result indicates that there are not only anecdotal but concrete differences between reduced gravity and terrestrial posture mechanisms.

This paper describes a unique concept for donning and doffing a spacesuit from a pressurized rover or habitat, which merges three independent concepts: suitports, neck-entry EVA suits, and the Morphing Upper Torso. The union of these concepts creates a novel and exciting suit and suitport system architecture, with many potential benefits over traditional suitport systems. To develop this concept, a neck-entry Morphing Upper Torso experimental model has been designed and fabricated, and systems level design studies have been performed, including visualization with the aid of CAD models of the neck-entry suitport on a small pressurized rover and a lunar habitat. As well, a donning test-station has been developed and used for experiments in 1-G, simulated microgravity and simulated partial gravity.

Neutral buoyancy (NB) and parabolic flight (PF) are the only presently available human-scale three-dimensional spaceflight simulation environments, and as such, both NB and PF are used extensively to simulate spaceflight conditions for both research and mission operations purposes. However, there is little or no quantitative (or even qualitative) material in the literature to characterize the fidelity of either environment to its analog. The present study was undertaken as part of a larger research effort to begin to build such characterizations. Eight healthy adults (4 men and 4 women) were asked to adopt relaxed postures while “standing” in space shuttle middeck standard-type foot restraints, in NB and during the 0g periods of PF. Subjects were tested in NB in 9 orientations, 3 trials each: Upright; tilted 45° Front, 45° Back, 45° Right, 45° Left; tilted 90° Front, 90° Back, 90° Right, and 90° Left.

Neutral buoyancy (NB) and parabolic flight (PF) are the only available human-scale three-dimensional spaceflight simulation environments. As such, both environments are used extensively for both research and mission operations purposes despite a lack of quantitative (or even qualitative) characterization of the fidelity of either environment to the spacelfight analog. The present study was undertaken as part of a larger research effort to begin to build such characterizations. Eight healthy adults (4 men and 4 women) were asked to adopt relaxed postures while ‘standing’ in space shuttle middeck standard-type foot restraints, in NB and during the 0g periods of PF. Subjects were tested in NB in 9 orientations, 3 trials each: Upright; tilted 45° Front, 45° Back, 45° Right, 45° Left; and tilted 90° Front, Back, Right, and Left. PF limitations prohibited 90° testing; consequently the PF test protocol included only Upright and 45° orientations.