Learning Outcomes
Human spaceflight is increasingly becoming a key driver in the world's total expenditure in the space domain, with many space agencies
announcing the realization of future permanent crewed habitats on extra-terrestial environments. The module introduces students to the
challenges and solutions of humans living and working in space from a technical and psychological aspect. Students start with the medical
and psychological processes of adaptation to space environments, and continue with the module to build their engineering skills and design
innovative strategies to mitigate the harsh space environment on humans.
After successful completion of this module, students will be able to
- identify the historical and future objectives of human spaceflight,
- describe the physiological factors that are relevant in human spaceflight,
- recognize the influence of the space environment on cognitive and psychomotor functions,
- give examples of mitigating the impact of the space environment on the human body and mind,
- recognize the technical and programmatic requirements to ensure humans can safely live and work in a space environment,
- explain the technical working principles of elements of space habitats,
- develop a systematic approach to provide solutions for a human space habitat,
- apply the fundamental space engineering skills in a space project for human habitats,
- recognize the importance of managing interfaces between different work packages,
- manage the interactions with people in an interdisciplinary and international team.
Content
Technical Aspects of Human Spaceflight:
- History of crewed spaceflight
- Protection and mitigation against micro meteorites, micro-gravity, thermal environment, radiation
- Regenerative life support systems
- Human space law
- Space suits
- In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU)
- Analog studies
Space Psychology:
- Microgravity and changed day-night-cycle as specific stress factors of the space environment
- Physiological problems of adaption to zero-gravity (hear circular flow system, vestibular system, muscle and bone system, space sickness)
- Effect of microgravity on cognitive and psychomotor functions and performance
- Psychological effects of isolation and confinement on performance
- Mental stat and sozio-psychological processes within astronaut crews
- Psychological aspects of selection, training and support of astronauts
